Max Boy
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 | |
| NY | 186 | |
| TX | 172 | |
| FL | 146 | |
| PA | 93 | |
| IL | 92 | |
| MA | 68 | |
| OH | 56 | |
| MI | 54 | |
| WA | 53 | |
| NC | 51 | |
| VA | 50 | |
| GA | 47 | |
| UT | 45 | |
| MO | 38 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,120 |
| 2023 | 2,201 |
| 2022 | 2,388 |
| 2021 | 2,410 |
| 2020 | 2,484 |
| 2019 | 2,752 |
| 2018 | 2,877 |
| 2017 | 3,145 |
| 2016 | 3,423 |
| 2015 | 3,419 |
| 2014 | 3,497 |
| 2013 | 3,520 |
| 2012 | 3,696 |
| 2011 | 3,956 |
| 2010 | 3,848 |
| 2009 | 3,958 |
| 2008 | 3,372 |
| 2007 | 2,882 |
| 2006 | 2,643 |
| 2005 | 2,494 |
| 2004 | 2,481 |
| 2003 | 2,460 |
| 2002 | 2,319 |
| 2001 | 2,404 |
| 2000 | 2,355 |
| 1999 | 2,298 |
| 1998 | 2,157 |
| 1997 | 1,698 |
| 1996 | 1,488 |
| 1995 | 1,565 |
| 1994 | 1,624 |
| 1993 | 1,887 |
| 1992 | 1,877 |
| 1991 | 1,829 |
| 1990 | 1,791 |
| 1989 | 1,606 |
| 1988 | 1,386 |
| 1987 | 1,453 |
| 1986 | 923 |
| 1985 | 761 |
| 1984 | 632 |
| 1983 | 531 |
| 1982 | 463 |
| 1981 | 501 |
| 1980 | 486 |
| 1979 | 459 |
| 1978 | 414 |
| 1977 | 403 |
| 1976 | 410 |
| 1975 | 415 |
| 1974 | 413 |
| 1973 | 434 |
| 1972 | 390 |
| 1971 | 409 |
| 1970 | 486 |
| 1969 | 375 |
| 1968 | 414 |
| 1967 | 395 |
| 1966 | 448 |
| 1965 | 422 |
| 1964 | 525 |
| 1963 | 549 |
| 1962 | 573 |
| 1961 | 652 |
| 1960 | 670 |
| 1959 | 691 |
| 1958 | 736 |
| 1957 | 740 |
| 1956 | 748 |
| 1955 | 724 |
| 1954 | 743 |
| 1953 | 725 |
| 1952 | 763 |
| 1951 | 805 |
| 1950 | 755 |
| 1949 | 761 |
| 1948 | 743 |
| 1947 | 869 |
| 1946 | 841 |
| 1945 | 803 |
| 1944 | 780 |
| 1943 | 875 |
| 1942 | 971 |
| 1941 | 931 |
| 1940 | 952 |
| 1939 | 979 |
| 1938 | 1,164 |
| 1937 | 1,106 |
| 1936 | 1,248 |
| 1935 | 1,283 |
| 1934 | 1,335 |
| 1933 | 1,124 |
| 1932 | 1,154 |
| 1931 | 1,183 |
| 1930 | 1,181 |
| 1929 | 1,336 |
| 1928 | 1,405 |
| 1927 | 1,227 |
| 1926 | 1,254 |
| 1925 | 1,385 |
| 1924 | 1,397 |
| 1923 | 1,440 |
| 1922 | 1,518 |
| 1921 | 1,558 |
| 1920 | 1,561 |
| 1919 | 1,458 |
| 1918 | 1,536 |
| 1917 | 1,511 |
| 1916 | 1,493 |
| 1915 | 1,434 |
| 1914 | 1,159 |
| 1913 | 897 |
| 1912 | 734 |
| 1911 | 360 |
| 1910 | 277 |
| 1909 | 228 |
| 1908 | 218 |
| 1907 | 197 |
| 1906 | 156 |
| 1905 | 140 |
| 1904 | 134 |
| 1903 | 110 |
| 1902 | 133 |
| 1901 | 110 |
| 1900 | 141 |
| 1899 | 127 |
| 1898 | 132 |
| 1897 | 122 |
| 1896 | 145 |
| 1895 | 95 |
| 1894 | 99 |
| 1893 | 107 |
| 1892 | 95 |
| 1891 | 91 |
| 1890 | 99 |
| 1889 | 83 |
| 1888 | 118 |
| 1887 | 73 |
| 1886 | 73 |
| 1885 | 71 |
| 1884 | 80 |
| 1883 | 75 |
| 1882 | 74 |
| 1881 | 66 |
| 1880 | 52 |