Max
Max is a boys' name of Latin origin meaning “greatest.” It ranked #40 in the United States in 2025. A short form of Maximilian or Maxwell, derived from Latin 'maximus' meaning greatest.
how do you pronounce Max?
MAKS
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Max mean?
The name Max means “greatest.” It comes from the Latin language tradition.
A short form of Maximilian or Maxwell, derived from Latin 'maximus' meaning greatest. It has long been a popular standalone name across Europe and North America for its strong, punchy simplicity.
where does the name Max come from?
A short form of Maximilian or Maximus, from the Latin maximus, meaning greatest — the superlative of magnus. It also serves as a short form of Maxwell, which is unrelated, being a Scottish place name meaning Mack's stream.
the history of Max
Maximus was a Roman cognomen, and Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor from 1493, is said to have been named by his father from a blend of Maximus and Aemilius. Max has been used independently across Germany, Britain and America for over a century, and its brevity has kept it in fashion while longer forms moved in and out.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #40 |
| 2023 | #42 |
| 2022 | #44 |
| 2021 | #46 |
| 2020 | #48 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Max?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Max?
- Max (Where the Wild Things Are character)
- Max Verstappen (F1 driver)
- Max Brooks (author)
what names are similar to Max?
what names go well with Max?
Sibling names that share Max's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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