Max

Max meaning

Max is an international boy's name of Latin origin.

Short form of Maximilian or Maximus; Latin maximus, "greatest"

Max began as a short form of Maximilian and Maximus, and now stands on its own. Both come from Latin maximus, which Lewis & Short treat as the superlative of magnus, 'great', so the word means 'greatest'. Maximus was a Roman family name, and Maximilian became a royal name in Central Europe after the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Max is also sometimes short for Maxwell, a Scottish surname with a different history. Baby-name lists give 'greatest', which matches the Latin. Famous bearers include the physicist Max Planck and the racing driver Max Verstappen. It is one syllable, said MAKS.

Source: Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary (1879), via Logeion · entry maximus (see magnus) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Lewis & Short, maximus / magnus (via Logeion) · Wikipedia, Max Planck

Famous namesakes

• Max Planck, German physicist
• Max Verstappen, Dutch Formula One driver

Popularity abroad

• #180 United States, boys 2025 (down 5 from 175 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #48 England and Wales, boys 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Related names

Also meaning strength

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