Meaning, origin, history
Max is a short form of the name Maximilian or Maximus, which both have Latin origins. Maximilian comes from the Latin "maximus," meaning "greatest" or "largest." Maximus also has its roots in Latin and means "the greatest." The name Max was popular among early Christians because it was associated with Saint Maximilian, who was a martyr during Roman Emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians around 305 AD. Throughout history, the name Max has been used by various figures such as Max Weber, a prominent sociologist in Germany, and Max Planck, a physicist who made significant contributions to quantum theory. Today, Max remains popular as a given name for boys worldwide.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Max since 1880
Total births
163,277
Total since 1880
Peak year
2009
3,958 births
in 2023
2,197
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
-11%
↘
vs previous 5 years