Axl

♂ Boy

Pronounced AKS-ul /ˈæk.səl/High

Meaning: Father of peace; from Old Norse Áskell (divine kettle/cauldron) or Germanic Axel, a Scandinavian form of Absolom (Hebrew: father of peace)Medium

In 30 seconds: A Scandinavian form of Absalom meaning 'father of peace,' via Old Norse Áskell. Most famous as the stage name of Axl Rose — born William Bruce Rose Jr. — the lead singer of Guns N' Roses.

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Origin MediumNorse, Germanic

MeaningFather of peace; from Old Norse Áskell (divine kettle/cauldron) or Germanic Axel, a Scandinavian form of Absolom (Hebrew: father of peace)

U.S. rank (2025)#1123 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births190 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,404

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Axl is a variant of Axel, the Scandinavian form of Absolom (Hebrew Ab Shalom: father of peace) via Old Norse Áskell. The -l ending is a simplification of the -el in Axel, used primarily as a stage name by Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose.

Axl appeared in U.S. boys' birth data from the 2000s onward, driven by Axl Rose's cultural influence. It ranked #1027 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Axl Rose (born William Bruce Rose Jr.) chose 'Axl' as a stage name — it is an anagram of 'LAX' (Los Angeles International Airport) and also references a local band named AXL. His 1987 Los Angeles rock explosion made this spelling iconic.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name — Axel — Norse/Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AxelAxl

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Axl Rose (1962–present)
American rock musician, lead vocalist of Guns N' Roses, known for Welcome to the Jungle (1987) and November Rain (1991). Born William Bruce Rose Jr.

If you like Axl…

Axel— the standard Scandinavian form of the same name

Knox— one-syllable -x ending name with the same rock-adjacent bold quality

Jett— rock-associated one-syllable name in the same edgy category

Ozzy— rock musician name in the same classic-rock name tradition

Explore names like Axl

By themetwo-syllable germanic norse celebrity-name rock

By meaningGod / Divine Peace

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Axl mean?

Axl means 'father of peace,' a variant of Axel (Scandinavian form of Absalom, Hebrew: father of peace). It is best known as Axl Rose's stage name.

How do you pronounce Axl?

It's said AKS-ul — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Axl a boy or girl name?

Axl is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Axl?

Axl ranked #1027 for U.S. boys in 2024.