Max Boy

Popularity: #170 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: maks //mæks//

Origin: Latin; Germanic

Meaning: Latin: greatest; Germanic: strong

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Max has its roots in the Latin name Maximus, which means "greatest." The name Maximus was commonly used in ancient Rome, often as a title of honor. It derives from the Latin root "magnus," meaning "great." The name transitioned into various forms as it spread through different cultures, including the Greek form Maximios, and later into Old French as Maximien before entering the English language as Max, typically as a diminutive or short form of Maximilian or Maximus.

Historically, the name Max has been borne by several notable figures. In the early Christian era, Saint Maximus of Turin, a bishop in the 4th century, contributed to the spread of Christianity in the region that is now Italy.

The name gained further prominence through the Roman Emperor Maxentius, who ruled in the early 4th century. Additionally, the name has been associated with various monarchs and saints throughout the Middle Ages, solidifying its presence in European history.

Culturally, the name Max has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing strength and greatness due to its etymological roots. It has appeared in literature and popular culture, reinforcing its significance as a name associated with valor and leadership.

The diminutive form Max is frequently used in familial and friendly contexts, reflecting a sense of affection and familiarity. Overall, the name Max carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, rooted in notions of greatness and honor.

Famous people named Max

In this section, you will find notable people named Max. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Max who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Max who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Max Planck is a physicist best known for quantum theory, Planck's constant, and the Planck length.

Max von Sydow is an actor best known for The Exorcist, The Seventh Seal, and Game of Thrones.

Max Baer Jr. is an actor and director best known for The Beverly Hillbillies, Macon County Line, and The Wild McCullochs.

Max Martin is a music producer and songwriter best known for his work with Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry.

Max Irons is an actor best known for The Host, The White Queen, and Red Riding Hood.

Max Lucado is an author and pastor best known for his inspirational books and works like You Are Special, and Grace for the Moment.

Fictional characters named Max

The following list of fictional characters named Max is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Max is a fictional character from the animated film The Secret Life of Pets. He is a lovable terrier who navigates the challenges of life in a New York City apartment after his owner leaves for work.

Max is a fictional character from the book and film series Where the Wild Things Are. He is a young boy who sails to an island inhabited by wild creatures and becomes their king.

Max Rockatansky is a fictional character from the Mad Max film series. He is a former police officer turned lone wanderer in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Max DeCosta is a fictional character from the film Elysium. He is a factory worker who seeks to access a luxurious space habitat to save his life after being exposed to a lethal dose of radiation.

Max is a fictional character from the TV series The Maxx. They are a superhero who lives in a dream world and protects a woman named Julie from various threats.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Max, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Max. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Max was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Max has ranked as high as #177 nationally, which occurred in 2009, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Indiana.

In the past 5 years the name Max has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Max is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Max was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Max (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 272
14%
NY 186
9%
TX 172
9%
FL 146
7%
PA 93
5%
IL 92
5%
MA 68
3%
OH 56
3%
MI 54
3%
WA 53
3%
NC 51
3%
VA 50
3%
GA 47
2%
UT 45
2%
MO 38
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Max.

YearBirths
20242,120
20232,201
20222,388
20212,410
20202,484
20192,752
20182,877
20173,145
20163,423
20153,419
20143,497
20133,520
20123,696
20113,956
20103,848
20093,958
20083,372
20072,882
20062,643
20052,494
20042,481
20032,460
20022,319
20012,404
20002,355
19992,298
19982,157
19971,698
19961,488
19951,565
19941,624
19931,887
19921,877
19911,829
19901,791
19891,606
19881,386
19871,453
1986923
1985761
1984632
1983531
1982463
1981501
1980486
1979459
1978414
1977403
1976410
1975415
1974413
1973434
1972390
1971409
1970486
1969375
1968414
1967395
1966448
1965422
1964525
1963549
1962573
1961652
1960670
1959691
1958736
1957740
1956748
1955724
1954743
1953725
1952763
1951805
1950755
1949761
1948743
1947869
1946841
1945803
1944780
1943875
1942971
1941931
1940952
1939979
19381,164
19371,106
19361,248
19351,283
19341,335
19331,124
19321,154
19311,183
19301,181
19291,336
19281,405
19271,227
19261,254
19251,385
19241,397
19231,440
19221,518
19211,558
19201,561
19191,458
19181,536
19171,511
19161,493
19151,434
19141,159
1913897
1912734
1911360
1910277
1909228
1908218
1907197
1906156
1905140
1904134
1903110
1902133
1901110
1900141
1899127
1898132
1897122
1896145
189595
189499
1893107
189295
189191
189099
188983
1888118
188773
188673
188571
188480
188375
188274
188166
188052