Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

I prefer Aksel... what do you say?

45 replies

mumtotwox · 06/10/2023 13:33

We love the name Aksel/Axel and the reason why I prefer Aksel is due to the more Danish way of spelling it. I also think it looks neater beside our other two boys -

Finn, Lucas and Aksel
Finn, Lucas and Axel

What do you say? Another name we love is Matthias or Emil.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
TheBirdintheCave · 06/10/2023 13:34

I'd go with Aksel.

BlowDryRat · 06/10/2023 13:48

If you live in Denmark, go with Aksel. Otherwise, Axel or he'll forever be correcting people's spelling.

SirChenjins · 06/10/2023 13:50

Do you live in Denmark?

mumtotwox · 06/10/2023 13:52

We live in Scotland and in Denmark twice of the year for holidays to see family.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 06/10/2023 13:56

Axel is the traditional UK way of spelling it, but if you're Danish (rather than having Danish connections which usually means a great grandfather was from the country!) then Aksel is fine, although it will mean he/you will have to correct the spelling on first meetings.

mumtotwox · 06/10/2023 13:58

@SirChenjins My partner was born in Denmark, his Dad is half Danish and Grandmother was a full Dane.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 06/10/2023 14:03

I think you pass the Danish test Wink

mumtotwox · 06/10/2023 14:04

@SirChenjins It's a tricky one but at least we have some time to ponder on it 😆

OP posts:
Snugglemonkey · 06/10/2023 14:14

I would go with Aksel.

mumtotwox · 06/10/2023 17:10

Thank you everyone for commenting!

OP posts:
Pocketfullofdogtreats · 06/10/2023 17:17

The problem is that in the UK you will have to explain about the Danish connection to everyone who raises an eyebrow at what they assume is your 'yooneek' spelling. But if you call him Axel, will you have to explain in Denmark?! Axel Rose is pretty well known. I prefer Axel, personally. Or go for Axle 😆

puddingandsun · 06/10/2023 17:19

Aksel is lovely.

Forever correcting people is not so terrible - many people have names with two or more usual spellings and it's fine.

I personally would ask how you spell Aksel/ Axel, as I don't come across it often enough to presume.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 06/10/2023 17:21

Axel or prepare them for 13 yrs of having name spelled wrongly.

coxesorangepippin · 06/10/2023 17:21

Axel

coxesorangepippin · 06/10/2023 17:22

Plus people will pronounce aksel: ackk sell

Rather than aksell

SoupDragon · 06/10/2023 17:24

Another name we love is Matthias

I far prefer this and it fits better with your current DSs.

UsingChangeofName · 06/10/2023 17:29

I would generally say, if you are always planning to live in the UK, then it will make their life a LOT easier if you spell it the way most of the UK do.

I mean, Aksel isn't difficult, but it is a name that is 'recognised' by UK ears as Axel, so that will be everyone's default spelling. It depends how much that bothers you (now) and you think it will bother them for 90 odd years.

KnickerlessParsons · 06/10/2023 17:32

I've seen it spelled Axl too. How about that? I really don't like Aksel (sorry Denmark).

ImDoingThisNow · 06/10/2023 17:35

Love all of the names. I prefer Aksel to Axel.

YouBetYourBippy · 06/10/2023 17:51

I have a weird name from overseas. No-one can pronounce it. No-one can spell it. I wouldn't say it has ruined my life but it is reeeeaaaalllllly annoying 🙄 If you're going to live here I would go with the UK-ish spelling.

Lollyloup90 · 06/10/2023 17:54

I have to say when I see "Aksel" it takes me a second to understand what I've just seen.
"Axel" on the other hand is obvious. I think your DS would prefer to have a name that people can spell/read more easily or like a PP said it would be annoying.
Go with Axel and then it's the best of both worlds surely?

mumtotwox · 06/10/2023 18:18

Thank you so much! Really appreciate from different angles 😊

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 06/10/2023 18:18

As you live in Scotland and your child's life admin will be UK based I'd use the Axel spelling.

Aksel might well get a variety of pronunciations, and yooooonique spelling reactions!

While I like Axel, if you are looking for a sib-set, Emil fits much better than Axel or Aksel.

ImDoingThisNow · 06/10/2023 18:40

Emil can have different pronunciations - annoying if it’s the wrong one to the one you want.

I would say that Axel and Aksel do have different pronunciations- which one do you want to go with?

Matthias is a great name, but you'll get lots of different pronunciations.

I would say this goes for most, but for the most obvious names. British (English?) people are notoriously bad for getting names right - pronunciation/ spelling/ shortening without asking.

I'm basically saying, choose what you want and others will have to go with it.

HoratioNightboy · 07/10/2023 00:07

As you're in Scotland, I feel duty-bound to inform you that the name was also used in the Northern Isles from the 18th century with the most common spelling being Axwell (silent 'w') followed by Axil. Once the name travelled to other parts of Scotland, Axel became the most commonly-used spelling, with the occasional Axal.

Wherever you live, I think anything other than "Axel" may be deemed "unique" so just go for whatever spelling you prefer, OP - it's a terrific name!