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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Your opinion on the name Axel please!

42 replies

Annie973 · 27/02/2020 07:43

Hello everyone,
I'm just passing here to have an English opinion on the name Axel.
I am french and due to give birth to a baby boy in France in 3 weeks 😍
Our top of the list name is Axel.
(pronounce Aksel, not Aksul)

It's a lovely name in France, and not so common.

I would like an easy name in english speaking country, so that if he travels, it wouldn't be an issue.
(my real name is Fanny, and you can imagine the struggle I had..! Ended up using the name Annie when I lived in the uk! )

So what would you think if you meet someone called Axel ?
Thank you 🥰

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MikeUniformMike · 28/02/2020 14:01

I like it. It will get Alex and Axle though.

thriftyhen · 28/02/2020 11:38

I would just think it's part of a car or lorry! Boys tend to mess around with other boys' names, so you might need to be prepared for that!

AxelsMummy · 28/02/2020 11:29

Love it.....but I am biased as I have an Axel!
We have had quite positive feedback, no one to our faces has said otherwise!
(Name change as I'm not sure whether I could be identified!)

Saltnpepperr · 28/02/2020 11:21

I have an Axel and love it. Always loved the name but was very apprehensive using it. Read so many threads also of people slating it. but so happy we did in the end. It’s great.

Ellmau · 28/02/2020 10:43

It makes me think first of the ice skating move (it's sort of jump), but it's a nice name.

LolaSmiles · 27/02/2020 21:35

I'd pronounce it ax-ul as in the car part Blush but would pronounce it correctly if someone corrected me.

It's a nice name as long as you're prepared to be correcting people getting it wrong.

CatteStreet · 27/02/2020 21:31

Not keen. In Germany it's in much the same vein as (e.g.) Brian is in the UK. Definitely 'older middle aged man' territory. I think I also associate it with the 80s becaue it immediately starts off an Axel F earworm.

Chardony · 27/02/2020 20:27

Rock on 😊

Cadnil · 27/02/2020 20:23

I like it too. Makes me think of The Middle which isn’t a bad thing!

Daffodil101 · 27/02/2020 20:23

I love it for a French baby. I speak French and it’s entirely in keeping with the language.

I think it’s slightly odd in English.

SentimentalKiller · 27/02/2020 20:20

I only know 1 Axel. Surname was Hoyle and everyone drops their Hs in my part of the world Grin

cptartapp · 27/02/2020 20:19

It's part of a vehicle. Dreadful.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 27/02/2020 20:18

It's a brilliant name - strong and decisive.

SleepingStandingUp · 27/02/2020 18:09

I think it sounds like a viking name so it's a win from me

MondeoFan · 27/02/2020 18:06

Oh yeah always loved it it's a great name I prefer the Axl spelling

Original poster
Annie973 · 27/02/2020 17:58

Thank you all a lot!!
So in total we have 2 "awfuls" : fair enough, but as there are no explanations as to why, I understand that it's just a taste think, rather than anything very wrong :)

18 "loves" or "likes"
And few advised that the pronunciation in the UK might not be as nice and there will probably be an association with Gun's & Roses.

This is fine to me! Nothing wrong with that I think.
Oh and his surname means absolutely nothing in English.

I think we've got the name. This is so difficult!
Thank you :)

OP posts:
Rachel246 · 27/02/2020 15:09

It will be pronounced Axl in English which doesn't sound as nice imo.

PhoneLock · 27/02/2020 11:26

I quite like it.

As long as your surname isn't something like "Stand" or "Spreadsheet".

Sagradafamiliar · 27/02/2020 11:25

I like it. Another French-Brit was called this at school

bananamonkey · 27/02/2020 11:21

I like it but I know a Belgian man called Axel so it’s not strange to me.

CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate · 27/02/2020 11:17

Sorry OP but in the UK I think it sounds a bit....lacking in gravitas put it that way. It will be pronounced Axe-ell or Ax'el' and people will assume you are a Guns and Roses fan. And whenever I've heard people refer to one of the band members by that name it's not pronounced well.

I can see however that's its lovely with a French accent. But sometimes whats sounds lovely and lilting in French loses that ring here.

UpToonGirl · 27/02/2020 11:14

Love it, it would make me think Guns n Roses but I'm a fan anyway!

user1493494961 · 27/02/2020 11:09

I second 'awful'.

TheOneWithAnotherNewName · 27/02/2020 10:21

Love it. I have a 1 year old Axel and it suits him. We had the initial comments about Guns n Roses but seem to be past those now (no, we're not big fans incase you're wondering!). Haven't met another one yet although I believe 9 were born in Scotland in the same year as our Axel.

Wintersun13 · 27/02/2020 10:16

Fellow french person here and it's a wonderful name ! In my top 2 for my baby due in may.

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