# Axel
## English
### Etymology

From Danish Aksel, first used for the bishop and statesman Absalon Hvide (1128–1201), from biblical Absalom. Some sources suggest that the bishop was originally named Áskell, from Old Norse "god" + "cauldron, helmet", and Absalon was chosen as the nearest-sounding Christian equivalent, leading to the exchange of the middle consonants.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈæk.səl/
* Homophones: axel, axil, axle

### Proper noun

Axel (plural Axels)
* A male given name from the Germanic languages in quiet use since the 19th century.
* A surname.

#### Derived terms

* Axel Heiberg Island

#### Statistics

* According to the 2010 United States Census, Axel is the 33941st most common surname in the United States, belonging to 670 individuals. Axel is most common among White (68.81%) and Black/African American (23.43%) individuals.

### Anagrams

* Alex, Lexa, axle

## Cebuano
### Etymology

From English Axel, from Danish Aksel.

### Proper noun

Axel
* a male given name from the Germanic languages

## Danish
### Proper noun

Axel
* a male given name, variant of Aksel

### References

* Danskernes Navne, based on CPR data: 15 602 males with the given name Axel (compared to 20 269 named Aksel) have been registered in Denmark between about 1890 (=the population alive in 1967) and January 2005, with the frequency peak in the 1900s decade. Accessed on 19 June 2011.

## Dutch
### Etymology

First attested as axla in 987-994. Etymology uncertain. Various compound derivations from a first element and lo (“light forest”) have been proposed, but none of these match the oldest attestations. Potentially derived from a term cognate to Old Norse öxull (“shoulder”), Old High German ahsala (“shoulder”), here referring to an elevated location.
See also Zealandic Aksel.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈɑk.səl/
* Audio:(file)
* Hyphenation: Axel
* Rhymes: -ɑksəl

### Proper noun

Axel n
* A city and former municipality of Terneuzen, Zeeland, Netherlands

#### Derived terms

* Axelaar
* Axels

### References

* van Berkel, Gerard, Samplonius, Kees (2018) “axel”, in Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard‎ (in Dutch), Mijnbestseller.nl, →ISBN

## French
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ak.sɛl/
* Audio:(file)

### Proper noun

Axel m
* a male given name from Danish

#### Related terms

* Axelle

### Anagrams

* Alex

## German
### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Proper noun

Axel
* a male given name from Danish

### Further reading

* “Axel” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
* “Axel” in Duden online

## Norwegian
### Proper noun

Axel
* a male given name of Danish origin, more often spelled Aksel

## Pennsylvania German
### Etymology

Compare Swedish axel.

### Noun

Axel f
* shoulder

## Swedish
### Etymology

From Danish Aksel, Axel. First recorded as a given name in Sweden in 1371.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /¹aksɛl/
* Audio:(file)

### Proper noun

Axel c (genitive Axels)
* a male given name

#### Related terms

* (surnames) Axelsson

### References

* Roland Otterbjörk: Svenska förnamn, Almqvist & Wiksell 1996, →ISBN
* Statistiska centralbyrån and Sture Allén, Staffan Wåhlin, Förnamnsboken, Norstedts 1995, →ISBN: 56 075 males with the given name Axel (compared to 1 446 named Aksel) living in Sweden on December 31st, 2010, with the frequency peak in the 1910s. Accessed on 19 June 2011.

### Anagrams

* Alex