Max
Gender: Boy
Meaning: Greatest — reaching for the highest potential
Origin: Latin
Popularity: Ranked #180 in 2025 with 2,025 babies born.
History: Max is a short form of Maximilian, Maximus, or Maxwell, all ultimately derived from the Latin 'maximus' meaning greatest. It has been used as an independent given name in the English-speaking world for over a century. It carries a strong, punchy, confident character and has been consistently popular across the Western world.
Famous people named Max: Max Verstappen (F1 driver), Mad Max (film character)
Name length: 3 letters
How common is Max? About 1 in 1,611 babies born in 2025 were named Max, or roughly 5.7 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Max
What does the name Max mean?
Max means “Greatest — reaching for the highest potential” from Latin roots.
What is the origin of the name Max?
Max has Latin origin. The traditional meaning is “Greatest — reaching for the highest potential”.
How popular is Max?
Max ranked #180 in 2025 — given to 2,025 babies that year.
When was Max most popular?
Max peaked in 2009 with 3,958 babies registered that year.
Is Max a boy or girl name?
Max is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Maxs in registered births are male.
Is the name Max rising or falling in popularity?
Max has risen 2274 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #2454 in 2020 to #180 in 2025.
How long has Max been recorded?
Max appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.