Max Boy

Popularity: #178 · 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.

JakeLeoSamBenEllaMia

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.

MackMatteoMasonMarkMilesMaxwellMiloMarcusMaddox

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Max has ranked as high as #180 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 2,066 2,025 41
2024 2,171 2,126 45
2023 2,278 2,205 73
2022 2,441 2,389 52
2021 2,463 2,410 53
2020 2,557 2,486 71
2019 2,783 2,755 28
2018 2,934 2,878 56
2017 3,187 3,145 42
2016 3,477 3,423 54
2015 3,445 3,422 23
2014 3,511 3,497 14
2013 3,539 3,520 19
2012 3,712 3,697 15
2011 3,964 3,956 8
2010 3,856 3,848 8
2009 3,969 3,958 11
2008 3,379 3,372 7
2007 2,891 2,882 9
2006 2,655 2,643 12
2005 2,501 2,494 7
2004 2,494 2,481 13
2003 2,465 2,460 5
2002 2,328 2,319 9
2001 2,413 2,404 9
2000 2,363 2,355 8
1999 2,297 2,297 0
1998 2,165 2,158 7
1997 1,705 1,698 7
1996 1,499 1,489 10
1995 1,577 1,565 12
1994 1,631 1,624 7
1993 1,897 1,888 9
1992 1,887 1,877 10
1991 1,842 1,829 13
1990 1,791 1,791 0
1989 1,617 1,606 11
1988 1,403 1,386 17
1987 1,459 1,452 7
1986 930 923 7
1985 770 762 8
1984 632 632 0
1983 536 531 5
1982 462 462 0
1981 501 501 0
1980 486 486 0
1979 457 457 0
1978 420 414 6
1977 403 403 0
1976 415 410 5
1975 415 415 0
1974 413 413 0
1973 434 434 0
1972 390 390 0
1971 409 409 0
1970 486 486 0
1969 375 375 0
1968 414 414 0
1967 395 395 0
1966 448 448 0
1965 427 422 5
1964 525 525 0
1963 549 549 0
1962 580 573 7
1961 653 653 0
1960 669 669 0
1959 697 691 6
1958 736 736 0
1957 746 740 6
1956 748 748 0
1955 724 724 0
1954 748 743 5
1953 730 725 5
1952 770 763 7
1951 811 805 6
1950 755 755 0
1949 761 761 0
1948 743 743 0
1947 874 869 5
1946 841 841 0
1945 810 803 7
1944 780 780 0
1943 880 875 5
1942 977 971 6
1941 931 931 0
1940 952 952 0
1939 979 979 0
1938 1,171 1,164 7
1937 1,106 1,106 0
1936 1,248 1,248 0
1935 1,293 1,283 10
1934 1,343 1,335 8
1933 1,136 1,124 12
1932 1,165 1,154 11
1931 1,193 1,183 10
1930 1,189 1,181 8
1929 1,349 1,336 13
1928 1,417 1,405 12
1927 1,239 1,227 12
1926 1,264 1,254 10
1925 1,395 1,385 10
1924 1,404 1,397 7
1923 1,453 1,440 13
1922 1,532 1,518 14
1921 1,570 1,558 12
1920 1,571 1,561 10
1919 1,469 1,458 11
1918 1,544 1,536 8
1917 1,518 1,511 7
1916 1,493 1,493 0
1915 1,434 1,434 0
1914 1,165 1,159 6
1913 897 897 0
1912 739 734 5
1911 360 360 0
1910 277 277 0
1909 228 228 0
1908 218 218 0
1907 197 197 0
1906 156 156 0
1905 140 140 0
1904 134 134 0
1903 110 110 0
1902 133 133 0
1901 110 110 0
1900 141 141 0
1899 127 127 0
1898 132 132 0
1897 122 122 0
1896 145 145 0
1895 95 95 0
1894 99 99 0
1893 107 107 0
1892 95 95 0
1891 91 91 0
1890 99 99 0
1889 83 83 0
1888 118 118 0
1887 73 73 0
1886 73 73 0
1885 71 71 0
1884 80 80 0
1883 75 75 0
1882 74 74 0
1881 66 66 0
1880 52 52 0

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 280
13%
NY 191
9%
TX 172
8%
FL 146
7%
PA 93
4%
IL 92
4%
NJ 71
3%
MA 68
3%
OH 56
3%
MI 54
3%
WA 53
2%
CO 53
2%
NC 51
2%
VA 50
2%
GA 47
2%
UT 45
2%
MO 38
2%
MD 35
2%
CT 35
2%
MN 35
2%
AZ 34
2%
WI 34
2%
IN 34
2%
TN 30
1%
LA 26
1%
IA 25
1%
KY 23
1%
OR 22
1%
OK 21
1%
ID 20
1%
DC 18
1%
KS 17
1%
AL 15
1%
AR 15
1%
SC 14
1%
NV 14
1%
NE 13
1%
HI 12
1%
NM 12
1%
NH 11
1%
ME 10
0%
AK 8
0%
MS 8
0%
ND 7
0%
RI 7
0%
DE 5
0%
MT 5
0%