Axel vs William

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 #10 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"resolute protector, strong-willed guardian"

Origin: Germanic

English German French

✓ All Clear

Axel Rank #78

William Rank #10

William is more popular, ranked #10 vs #78 for Axel.

Is Axel or William more popular?

William is more popular, ranked #10 compared to Axel at #78 in the United States.

What do Axel and William mean?

Axel means "father of peace" (Old Norse (variant of Absalom) origin). William means "resolute protector, strong-willed guardian" (Germanic origin).

Are Axel and William boy or girl names?

Axel is primarily a boy name. William is primarily a boy name.