Boy name · Latin
Max
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: the greatestMax is a boy's name that comes from Latin and means "the greatest". It is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, French and Spanish.
- Meaning
- The greatest
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #180 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Max
As a boy's name, Max comes from Latin and means "the greatest". It is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, French and Spanish.
In French, say MAHKS. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Max on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Max on 10 lists.
“Turned all the way up on helpfulness”
From Nicknames for ChatGPT, human-sounding names for an AI assistant
“Short for Maximilian, from Latin for greatest, and a top dog name for decades”
From Boy dog names, popular boy dog names
“Greatest; Latin. Punchy and modern”
From Boy middle names, one-syllable boy middle names
“Short for Maximilian, meaning greatest; big energy in one syllable”
From Cat names, popular cat names
“The greatest; Latin. Short for Maximilian; a German favorite”
From Classic boy names, short one-syllable classic boy names
“The greatest; Latin, friendly, bright and full of energy”
From Cute boy names, short and cute boy names
“The greatest; Latin. Say MAHKS”
From French boy names, short French boy names
“The greatest; Latin, short for Maximilian. Say MAHKS”
From German boy names, german nicknames for boys
“Greatest; Latin. Short for Maximiliano”
From Mexican boy names, modern Mexican names for boys
“Short, punchy and full of attitude”
From Taco Bell chihuahua name, boy chihuahua names
How popular is Max?
- US rank in 2025
- #180
- 2,025 babies, 1,186 per million boys
- Best rank
- #96 in 2011
- Most babies: 3,958 in 2009
- Babies since 1880
- At least 167,458
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 698 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 975 per million |
| 1900s | 1,154 per million |
| 1910s | 1,627 per million |
| 1920s | 1,278 per million |
| 1930s | 1,113 per million |
| 1940s | 573 per million |
| 1950s | 368 per million |
| 1960s | 261 per million |
| 1970s | 256 per million |
| 1980s | 474 per million |
| 1990s | 935 per million |
| 2000s | 1,371 per million |
| 2010s | 1,816 per million |
| 2020s | 1,316 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #118 | #128 | #136 | #137 | #147 | #160 | #157 | #163 | #175 | #180 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Max
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- MacsenThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- MaksimThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- MassimoThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- MaximeThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- MaximilianThe greatest (Latin, boy)
Names spelled like Max
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- MaxiPet form of Maximiliano (Spanish, boy)
- MarkOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- MaëlPrince, chief (Breton, boy)
- MaloBright pledge (Breton, boy)
- MaluShade, shelter, peace (Hawaiian, unisex)
- MániThe moon (Old Norse, boy)
- ManōA shark (Hawaiian, boy)
- MaorA light, a luminary (Hebrew, boy)
- MaruRidge, summit, a native Korean word (Korean, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- MaxineThe greatest (Latin, girl)
- MaksymilianGreatest (Latin, boy)
- MassimilianoGreatest (Latin, boy)
- MaxenceGreatest (Latin, boy)
- MaximilianoGreatest (Latin, boy)
- MáximoGreatest (Latin, boy)
- MaximusGreatest (Latin, boy)
- RupinderGreatest beauty (Punjabi, unisex)
Middle names for Max
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Latin
- LeoA lion (Latin, boy)
- AdrianFrom Hadria (Latin, boy)
- FelixLucky, happy (Latin, boy)
- MartinDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- AugustExalted, venerable (Latin, boy)
- MagnusThe great (Latin, boy)
- MarcoOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- MarcusOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- PatrickNobleman, patrician (Latin, boy)
Max: common questions
What does the name Max mean?
Max comes from Latin and means "the greatest". Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Max a boy or girl name?
Max is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 41 girls and 2,025 boys in the US were named Max, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Max come from?
Max comes from Latin and means "the greatest". Today it is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, French and Spanish.
How popular is the name Max?
Max ranked #180 in the US in 2025, with 2,025 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Max?
Forms of Max with the same meaning and origin include Macsen (Welsh), Maksim (Russian), Massimo (Italian), Maxime (French) and Maximilian (German).
What middle names go with Max?
Middle names that flow well with Max include Atticus, Chase, Ethan, Francis and Jameson. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.