Max is a short and simple name of Latin origin, derived from the name Maximilian, which means "greatest." Both Max and Maximilian originated from the Roman family name Maximus.
Max is pronounced "maks," and while there aren't many alternative spellings to choose
from, you may occasionally see the name spelled as Maxx (the Olympic skater Scott Hamilton chose this spelling for his son's name).
Max is typically used as a shortened name for Maxwell, Maximus, Maximilian, Maxim or Maximo, but it has also gained popularity as a stand-alone first name, mostly for boys. The similar but more feminine Maxine is more commonly used for girls, though the nickname Max is gender neutral.
Like other popular names such as Sam, Jack, and Henry, Max is a strong name that's easy to spell and sure to age well. Such a short name doesn't lend itself well to nicknames, but some options include Mackie, Mack, or Maxie.
The name Max really took off after Maurice Sendak's children's book Where the Wild Things Are was released in the 1960s. The main character in the book is Max, a mischievous boy who takes readers on an imaginative journey in which he sails to a far-away land of monsters.
This edgy-sounding, one-syllable name was among the most popular boy names in the United States in 2010 and 2011, but since then Max has fallen out of the top 100 baby names on the Social Security Administration's list. Still, it remains in the top 150 names in the U.S., and has been in the top 400 names for boys since 1900. Also, Max is popular around the world, including in Wales, England, and Scotland.
Among BabyCenter parents, Max remains a solid choice. Max continues to be close to the top 100 in BabyCenter's boy name rankings. (BabyCenter's name lists are based on data from hundreds of thousands of parents who share their baby's name with us.)
Max is undoubtedly a cool name, but if you're considering it, keep in mind that it's also a common pet name. In fact, Max is the most popular name for dogs in the United States, right up there with Toby, Bella, Riley, and Molly.
Whether for people or man's best friend, the name Max has remained a top choice in the U.S. for more than 100 years – and it certainly isn't going away anytime soon.
