Boy name · Latin
Maximilian
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: the greatestMaximilian is a boy's name that comes from Latin and means "the greatest". It is used in German and English.
- Meaning
- The greatest
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- mahk-see-MEE-lee-ahn (German)
Meaning and origin of Maximilian
As a boy's name, Maximilian comes from Latin and means "the greatest". It is used in German and English.
In German, say mahk-see-MEE-lee-ahn. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Maximilian on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Maximilian on 3 lists.
“Greatest; Latin. Grand, with Max inside”
From Boy middle names, long middle names for short first names
“The greatest; Latin. Max for short; a Habsburg emperor”
From Classic boy names, royal and noble boy names
“The greatest; Latin maximus. Say mahk-see-MEE-lee-ahn”
From German boy names, popular German boy names
How popular is Maximilian?
- US rank in 2025
- #590
- 497 babies, 291 per million boys
- Best rank
- #429 in 2013
- Most babies: 717 in 2016
- Babies since 1907
- At least 18,940
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 4 per million |
| 1910s | 8 per million |
| 1920s | 4 per million |
| 1930s | 1 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 1 per million |
| 1960s | 5 per million |
| 1970s | 16 per million |
| 1980s | 50 per million |
| 1990s | 142 per million |
| 2000s | 256 per million |
| 2010s | 346 per million |
| 2020s | 304 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #433 | #464 | #448 | #502 | #493 | #548 | #567 | #561 | #587 | #590 |
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.
Nicknames for Maximilian
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Maxcommon English nickname
- Milocommon English nickname
Other forms of Maximilian
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)
- MaxThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- MaximeThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- MaximilianoGreatest (Latin, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Maximilian
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter 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)
Maximilian: common questions
What does the name Maximilian mean?
Maximilian comes from Latin and means "the greatest".
Is Maximilian a boy or girl name?
Maximilian is mainly a boy's name.
What are nicknames for Maximilian?
Common nicknames for Maximilian include Max and Milo.
How do you pronounce Maximilian?
In German, say mahk-see-MEE-lee-ahn. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Maximilian?
Maximilian ranked #590 in the US in 2025, with 497 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Maximilian?
Forms of Maximilian with the same meaning and origin include Macsen (Welsh), Maksim (Russian), Massimo (Italian), Max (English) and Maxime (French).
What middle names go with Maximilian?
Middle names that flow well with Maximilian include Asher, David, Elton, Jack and Lamar. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.