Max

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

• German and Dutch : from a short form of the personal name Maximilian (Latin Maximillianus, a derivative of Maximillus, diminutive of Maximus ‘greatest’), borne by a 3rd-century saint venerated particularly in the region of Passau, where he founded a church. The personal name was comparatively rare at the most productive period of surname formation; it gained popularity from the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (born 1459), who was named by his father, Frederick III of Austria, in honor of the Roman heroes Q. Fabius Maximus and Scipio Aemilianus, as if with a combination of their names. The name is also borne by Ashkenazic Jews, presumably as an adoption of the German surname.

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Popularity

According to Social Security Administration data, Max has been decreasing in popularity since enjoying a spot in the top 100 between 2010 and 2011. Despite the decline, Max remains in the top 150.

However, it is the 9th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Max was at its peak popularity in December 2020.

Originally a nickname for names such as Maxwell, Max has become quite popular in its own right. The name really became popular after the Where the Wild Things Are was published. Celebrities have also kept the name alive by choosing it for their sons, most recently Christina Aguilera, Cynthia Nixon and Charlie Sheen. Other notable namesakes include Max Greenfield, Max Changmin, and Max Becker.

Where is it Popular?

Max was searched for most often in the following states:

Pairs well with these middle names