Aksel vs William
Aksel and William compared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Aksel was ranked #25 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Aksel was ranked #1798 and William #25 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Aksel was ranked #657 and William #67 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Aksel and William over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Aksel and William over time
Aksel and William appear together in 2 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Aksel in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Aksel in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aksel and William changed places 11 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #25 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Aksel and William averaged 52.5 places apart, ending at #25 and #3.
- Longest-running competitions
Aksel and William were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #3.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Aksel held the stronger position in 27 of those years, William in 54.
Highest recorded here: Aksel #6 in 2021, William #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1980: William moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #263 and #372; by 1980 that had become #353 and #233.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aksel #25, William #3.
England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 2006–2025
Aksel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 20.
Highest recorded here: Aksel #1132 in 2024, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aksel #1798, William #25.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Aksel
Pairs where Aksel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anders vs Aksel
Anders and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #25.
Anders · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Aksel
Andreas and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #25.
Andreas · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Arne vs Aksel
Arne and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #25.
Arne · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Bjørn vs Aksel
Bjørn and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #56 and #25.
Bjørn · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving William
Pairs where William shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- William vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #26 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #58 and #395.
William · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #402.
William · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #352.
William · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #334.
William · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — longest-running competitions.
- Aksel vs Christian
Aksel and Christian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #131.
Aksel · Christian · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Daniel vs Aksel
Daniel and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #66 and #25.
Daniel · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Aksel vs Einar
Aksel and Einar were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #57.
Aksel · Einar · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Aksel vs Eirik
Aksel and Eirik were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #122.
Aksel · Eirik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Aksel | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈwɪljəm/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Republic of Ireland, Norway | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #25 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Aksel does not have one recorded yet.
- Aksel and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Aksel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Aksel
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #174 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Norway, in 2021 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1798 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys