Axel vs Derek

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Axel

Boy #78 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"father of peace"

Origin: Old Norse (variant of Absalom)

Swedish Norwegian Danish German American

✓ All Clear

Boy #258 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"ruler of the people"

Origin: Germanic

English American Dutch German

✓ All Clear

Axel Rank #78

Derek Rank #258

Axel is more popular, ranked #78 vs #258 for Derek.

Is Axel or Derek more popular?

Axel is more popular, ranked #78 compared to Derek at #258 in the United States.

What do Axel and Derek mean?

Axel means "father of peace" (Old Norse (variant of Absalom) origin). Derek means "ruler of the people" (Germanic origin).

Are Axel and Derek boy or girl names?

Axel is primarily a boy name. Derek is primarily a boy name.