Namesakes
Fictional Characters from Movies:
1 hero
Axel Foley 1984 Beverly Hills Cop 
Nobel Prize Winners:
1 literature, 1 medicine
(literature) Erik Axel Karlfeldt 1931
(medicine) Hugo Theorell (a.k.a. Axel) 1955
Norwegian Kings and Queens:
1 king
King Haakon VII (middle name Axel) 1905-1957
Notable Athletes:
1 skating, 1 soccer
(skating) Axel Paulsen 1855-1938
(soccer) Axel Witsel 1989-
Notable Writers:
1 author, 1 poet
Erik Axel Karlfeldt 1864-1931
Aksel Sandemose (a.k.a. Axel) 1899-1965
Olympic Medalists:
1 bronze
(bronze) Axel Runström 1908 water polo
Other Royalty:
4 princes, 1 king
Axel of Denmark 1888-1964 Denmark
Georg of Denmark (middle name Axel) 1920-1986 Denmark
Flemming of Denmark (middle name Axel) 1922-1949 Denmark
Oluf of Denmark (middle name Axel) 1923-1948 Denmark
Baudouin of Belgium (middle name Axel) 1951-1993 Belgium
Swedish Prime Ministers:
1 prime minister
Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp 1936