Total births
72,459
Boys' name · since 1880
Axel
Axel has 72,459 recorded births since 1880 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2020 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #78
- among boys today
- 72,459
- born since 1880
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 99.5%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Axel is the #78 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 72,459 recorded since 1880.
Social Security Administration records show Axel recorded 72,459 times among boys since 1880, holding rank #78 nationally today, ahead of 99.5% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2025.
- #78 among boys today
- 72,459 born since 1880
- 2010s peak decade
- 99.5% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Axel is currently the #78 boys' name in America, more common than 99.5% of boys - 72,459 born since 1880, peaking in the 2010s.
- #78
- among boys today
- 72,459
- born since 1880
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 99.5%
- more common than other boys
Axel vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#78
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 99.5% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
44% of everyone ever named Axel was born in this single decade.
2020
Single peak year
4,667 babies were named Axel in 2020 - its busiest year on record.
How Axel compares
72,459 Top 3% higher than 97% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Axel's all-time total is 197x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Axel | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 72,459 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 4,667 | 23 | 22,252 |
Axel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Axel's SSA record in two at 1952 and the more recent half accounts for 98% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 2%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1940, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2020 peak of 4,667, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Axel at a glance
Top 100 boys' namePeak year
2020
Current rank
#78
Active since
1880
Axel popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2025
- Peak year (2020)
- 4,667
- Annual births at peak, across 146 years of records
Axel popularity over time - girls
209 total births recorded since 2001 (Axel as girls' name)
Axel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Axel's strongest decade.
31,809 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
Axel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 163
1880s
163 births
- 1890s 165
1890s
165 births
- 1900s 86
1900s
86 births
- 1910s 291
1910s
291 births
- 1920s 232
1920s
232 births
- 1930s 89
1930s
89 births
- 1940s 81
1940s
81 births
- 1950s 85
1950s
85 births
- 1960s 168
1960s
168 births
- 1970s 222
1970s
222 births
- 1980s 446
1980s
446 births
- 1990s 1,534
1990s
1,534 births
- 2000s 10,613
2000s
10,613 births
- 2010s
2010s
31,809 births
- 2020s
2020s
26,475 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 31,809 births (44% of all-time use).
How Axel compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Axel's total volume
Axel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Axel by state
Where Axel concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 12,013 | 16.6% |
| #2 | Texas | | 11,518 | 15.9% |
| #3 | New York | | 3,505 | 4.8% |
| #4 | Florida | | 3,321 | 4.6% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 2,926 | 4.0% |
| #6 | Arizona | | 2,275 | 3.1% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 2,248 | 3.1% |
| #8 | North Carolina | | 2,244 | 3.1% |
California share of Axel's total US births 16.6%
Even split
12,013 of 72,459 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 51 reporting states.
Axel appears in 51 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Axel? ▼
Axel has been given to 72,459 babies in the U.S. since 1880, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #78 as of the latest data. 4,667 babies were born in 2020, its single highest year.
When was Axel most popular? ▼
Axel was most popular in the 2010s decade with 31,809 total births. The single peak year was 2020.
Where is Axel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Axel are California (12,013 births), Texas (11,518 births), New York (3,505 births).
How long has the name Axel been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Axel since 1880 -- 146 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Axel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Axell, Axeton, Axe, Axen, and 3 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Axel's data
- Axel's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (31,809 total births) through the 2020s (26,475) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Axels (12,013 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Axel
Nearby Names Like Axel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Axel
Axell Boy
#1818 1,125 births
Axeton Boy
#8825 128 births
Axe Boy
65 births
Axen Boy
26 births
Axelson Boy
16 births
Compare Axel side by side: Axel vs Axell Axel vs Axeton Axel vs Axe
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Axel
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Axel: #78 Boys' Name - 72,459 Births, Peak 2020." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/axel. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Axel draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.