NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Axl

A masculine Scandinavian name meaning "father of peace" or "peaceful ruler".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Axl is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Axl popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #898, with 35 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 49 births.

This profile covers 445 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 459 living people in the UK are called Axl. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Axl ranked #898 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 35 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 49 boys were registered as Axl.
  • Axl ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #415 in 2017.
  • About 459 living people in the UK are estimated to have Axl as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#898

2024

Births in 2024

35

Latest year

Peak year

2022

49 births

Estimated living

459

2026

Meaning

What does Axl mean?

The name Axl is a Germanic name with origins dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Norse name Aksel, which means "father of peace" or "the peace-maker." The name Aksel is composed of the elements "akr" meaning "anchor" and "hildr" meaning "battle."

In the 9th century, the name Aksel was recorded as a common name among Vikings and Scandinavian settlers. As they spread across Europe, the name took on various spellings and forms, including Axel, Axl, and Axele. The name gained popularity in regions of Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Axl can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of narratives depicting the lives and adventures of Norse settlers in Iceland. In these tales, Axl was often used as a name for noble warriors and respected leaders, highlighting the name's association with strength and peacemaking.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Axl. One of the earliest was Axl Erikson (c. 1050 - 1120), a Danish chieftain and explorer who is credited with leading the first Danish expedition to Greenland. Another notable figure was Axl von Bülow (1218 - 1293), a German nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Crusades.

In the 16th century, Axl Oxenstierna (1583 - 1654), a Swedish statesman and diplomat, served as the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden and played a crucial role in the Thirty Years' War. Axl Arnfeldt (1718 - 1787), a Swedish industrialist and entrepreneur, was a prominent figure in the Swedish iron industry and contributed significantly to the country's economic development.

One of the most famous individuals with the name Axl in modern times is Axl Rose (born 1962), the lead singer of the iconic American rock band Guns N' Roses. His unique stage presence and powerful vocals have made him a legendary figure in the world of rock music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Axl over time

The chart below shows babies named Axl registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Axl, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 35 births in 2024, compared with 49 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Axl
012253749199620102024

Decades

Axl by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Axl was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #882 180 5
2010s #1457 225 10
2000s #2939 32 6
1990s #2461 8 2

Geography

Where Axl is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Axl. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Axl ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #415 in 2017.

Northern Ireland
3
Scotland
3

Across the UK

Axl in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#727 in 2024

4 years of NRS records, 14 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#415 in 2017

1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Axl

FAQ

Axl: questions and answers

How popular is the name Axl in the UK right now?

In 2024, Axl was ranked #898 for boys in England and Wales, with 35 births registered.

When was Axl most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 49 babies registered as Axl in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Axl?

A masculine Scandinavian name meaning "father of peace" or "peaceful ruler".

How many people are called Axl in the UK?

A total of 445 babies have been registered as Axl across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 14 more in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Axl most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Axl ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #415 in 2017. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.