My brother and his Dutch bride have had a son. They’ve named him Axel. Both insist that this is a popular name in The Netherlands. True?
Additionally, the family rumor mill is stating that the translation of Axel from Dutch to English is “Armpit?” Any veracity to this?
Axel is a Dutch boys name, but I wouldn’t want to call it a very popular one. I’ve heard it maybe once or twice in my entire life. It is somewhat popular in Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Also, there is a town called Axel in the Dutch province of Zeeland.
The Dutch word for armpit is oksel, which roughly sounds like “Axel” if your accent is American enough. 
Any more questions?
Is there a translation of Axel, Coldy?
According to Van Dale, the largest Dutch dictionary, the only meaning for the word “Axel” is ‘a pivoting jump used in figure skating’ (which is an English term as well). After some research, I found out that this move was named after Axel Paulsen, a 19th-century Norwegian figure skater. So the best guess for the origin of the boys name Axel would be the town of the same name.
Is your sis-in-law 100% Dutch? Did she grow up there?
Thanks.
Yup. She’s 100 percent Dutch. She grew up just outside of Holland. She and my brother met while she was in college state-side. They married, she became a citizen, they were interrogated by the INS, then they announced to the family that they had been married… three years later.
Her name is Calla but we all call her “Krummel” after an unfortunate crumb cake accident.
Calla? Not Carla?
And what do you mean “grew up just outside of Holland”? And did she really give up her Dutch citizenship? The horror. 
Calla. Though come to think of it, it may be Cala. No that doesn’t look right. Calla, yes. Definitely, Calla.
I’m not sure what I mean by “She grew up just outside of Holland,” as that’s how my brother described it to me, I believe.
Damn. I just realized I’m not too sure about anything with this girl. Maybe she’s French and named Fred…
Well, it’s possible your brother is correct. Holland is only a part of the Netherlands, after all.
Excellent cite, my Dutch friend.
Some pointless trivia for the enquiring minds. Axel in Swedish (and Norwegian too, I presume) means shoulder. Just thought I’d pop in here and tell you that. I love being bilingual.
I search on a Swedish name-site,
and there it says that Axel has a long history in Sweden.
In the 14th century Absalon changed to the Nordic name Axel.
And Absalon comes from the Hebrew name Abshalom,
witch meens, The father of peace.