Is Axel too common?

Okay, so I found the name [name]Axel[/name] on my husbands family tree from [name]Sweden[/name]. I really like the name but I was wondering if it is becoming too common and if little [name]Axel[/name] will be one of many in his classes. Also if we used it as a first name, what is a good middle name? Or if we used it as a middle, what would be a good first name?

Also, what does everyone think about the name [name]Otto[/name]? It is another family name on my husbands side, but I don’t know if it is too European for the United States.

Side note: Our last name is 1 syllable and our current son’s name is [name]Emory[/name].

I like [name]Axel[/name] and no, I don’t think it’s common at all. I’ve never, ever run into anyone of any age named [name]Axel[/name] and the only [name]Axel[/name]'s I can think of off the top of my head are [name]Axl[/name] [name]Rose[/name] and the character [name]Axl[/name] from “The Middle”.

[name]Otto[/name], on the other hand, I just can’t get behind. I just don’t find it appealing at all.

[name]Axel[/name] is a cool name. I’ve never met a single one and I’ve never heard of anyone naming their kid that irl.

[name]Otto[/name] is definitely very ethnic sounding. I think it would be great for a middle.

[name]Axel[/name] is definitely not too common. I think [name]Otto[/name] is really cool. It re-entered the US top 1000 in 2011. I have to point out that [name]Axel[/name] and [name]Otto[/name] together sounds like you’re talking about cars.

um, [name]Axel[/name] isn’t common at all. [name]Alexander[/name] is, but [name]Axel[/name] is not. I like it much better than [name]Otto[/name].

Hey thanks for the feedback! Whenever I think of the name [name]Axel[/name] I think of the character from kingdom hearts. I don’t know if I would use it for a first name if people will link it to [name]Axl[/name] [name]Rose[/name]. It is a cool name though, and my husband really likes it.
I also like [name]Otto[/name], it is a strong classic in my opinion. I do like it as a middle option.
Thanks for pointing that out southern.maple, we would only use one so people won’t think we are crazy about cars. :slight_smile:

I don’t think it’s common but you could always use [name]Axelle[/name] on a girl since it’s very uncommon.
[name]Otto[/name] is Ok. I think it’s really usable right now with [name]Arlo[/name] & [name]Marlowe[/name] as hot as they are but it’s generally nms kind of a name I don’t think ages well or sounds like a dog name. Ut has a hipster cool quality tho.

We have [name]Axel[/name] on our list too. But spelled [name]Aksel[/name]. I got the name from the Norwegian skier [name]Aksel[/name] Lund Svindal.

I don’t think [name]Axel[/name] is too common. [name]Otto[/name] is also a name in my family and a very close friends surname and I absolutely like it and think it is usable as first name.

I do have to say that [name]Axl[/name] [name]Rose[/name] was the first thing to come to mind. That being said I have never met one so, no, not to common.

Whether or not [name]Axel[/name] is too common might depend on where you live. It ranked #65 in 2011 in my state, and I think it’s also popular in [name]California[/name]. It has appeared in several telenovellas, and there’s also an Argentinian singer who goes by [name]Axel[/name], so it seems to be gaining ground fast in states with large Hispanic populations. I’ve seen it a couple times in my local birth announcements, but I’ve never actually met one, so it doesn’t feel too popular to me at this point.

I like both, but I slightly prefer [name]Otto[/name]. I love the shape of it, and it sounds so friendly. [name]Axel[/name] sounds more aggressive to me.