Max
Max is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Greatest.
Origin and history
Max is a short form of Latin names like Maximilian or Maximus, meaning greatest. It gained widespread popularity in English-speaking countries as an independent given name. It remains a timeless and consistently popular choice for boys in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
167,458 babies in the United States have been named Max since 1880. It ranks #207 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #162.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11 %)
- NY (8.9 %)
- TX (6.4 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
- IN (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 765 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,112 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,567 |
| 1910-1920 | 10,859 |
| 1920-1930 | 14,081 |
| 1930-1940 | 11,757 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,526 |
| 1950-1960 | 7,430 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,023 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,231 |
| 1980-1990 | 8,741 |
| 1990-2000 | 18,216 |
| 2000-2010 | 27,368 |
| 2010-2019 | 34,141 |
| 2020-2029 | 13,641 |
Famous people named Max
- Max Verstappen: Racing Driver, Formula One Champion
- Max Planck: Physicist, Nobel Laureate
- Max Greenfield: Actor
Fun facts
- Originally used strictly as a nickname for Maximilian, Max became popular as an independent given name in the late 19th century.
- The name was made famous in children's literature by Maurice Sendak's classic 1963 picture book 'Where the Wild Things Are'.