Axel (also Aksel) is a Scandinavian, German, French, and Dutch masculine given name. In Estonia, Denmark, and Norway the spelling Aksel is more common.[2] The Finnish form of the name is Akseli. A French feminine form is Axelle.

Axel
Pronunciation/ˈæksəl/
Swedish: [ˈǎksɛl]
French: [aksɛl]
Spanish: [aɣˈsel]
GenderMale
Language(s)Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, German, French, Spanish, Dutch
Name daySweden: 16 June
Finland: 23 March
Origin
Word/nameAbsalom
Meaning'Father of Peace'
Region of originScandinavia
Other names
Alternative spellingAksel, Axl
Nickname(s)Axe
Related namesAbsalom, Akseli, Askel
[1]

Because the Danish archbishop Absalon (1128–1201) was also known as "Axel of Lund", the name has been interpreted as a corruption of the Hebrew name Absalom. Axel arose via Axelen from Absalon, possibly by conflation with the existing name Askel, Askil, medieval forms of the Old Norse name Ásketill, from ans "god" and ketill "cauldron/helmet".[3]

As a given name

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Fictional characters

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As a surname

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  • Curtis Axel (born 1979), ring name of American professional wrestler Joseph Curtis Hennig
  • Gabriel Axel (1918–2014), Danish filmmaker
  • Richard Axel (born 1946), American scientist

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  2. ^ "Hvor mange hedder... - Danmarks Statistik". Dst.dk. Retrieved 21 October 2013.Jørgen Ouren (23 January 2013). "Navn - SSB" (in Norwegian). Ssb.no. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  3. ^ Också förväxlingar mellan Askil och Absalon samt Askil och Asgut har skett i fda. Om man nu vill hänvisa till rundanskans askil — i rundanskan finns således formen — borde man ha skrivit 'Fda. Eskil', ty det är i denna spalt man finner askil.En dat is waar. Namn och bygd 62 (1974), p. 183 (in Swedish).