Axel (also spelled Aksel) is a name for boys used in Scandinavian, German, French, and Dutch cultures. In Estonia, Denmark, and Norway, the spelling Aksel is more common. In Finland, the name is spelled Akseli, and in France, a feminine version is Axelle. Axel is sometimes used as a last name.
The name Axel is linked to the Danish archbishop Absalon (1128–1201), who was also called "Axel of Lund." This connection suggests Axel may come from the Hebrew name Absalom. Over time, Axel developed from the name Axelen, which might have mixed with other names like Askel and Askil. These names are medieval forms of the Old Norse name Ásketill, which combines "ans" meaning "god" and "ketill" meaning "cauldron" or "helmet."
As a surname
- Curtis Axel (born 1979), the ring name of Joseph Curtis Hennig, an American professional wrestler
- Gabriel Axel (1918–2014), a filmmaker from Denmark
- Richard Axel (born 1946), an American scientist