The story behind Max
Borrowed from German Max, diminutive of Maximilian in the 19th century, later also used as a nickname for Maxwell.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Dutch entry
Borrowed from German Max. Equivalent to a shortening of Maximiliaan.
Finnish entry
From Swedish Max, German Max, vernacular forms of Latin Maximus, Maximinus and Maximilianus.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /mæks/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Dutch: /mɑks/
- Finnish: /ˈmɑks/
- Finnish: [ˈmɑ̝ks̠]
Popularity
Max ranked #3687 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Max
Pax
From Latin Pāx (“Peace”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends X
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rex
From Latin rēx (“king”). Doublet of rajah and roy.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends X
- same syllable count
- similar length
Marc
Borrowed from French Marc, from Latin Marcus. From Latin Mārcus. Borrowed from Late Latin Marcus. From Latin Marcus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends C
- same syllable count
- similar length
Mark
From Middle English Mark, from the Latin praenomen (i.e. first name) Mārcus, derived from Mārs, the Roman god of war, originally Māvors, from Proto-Italic *Māwortis. (given…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends K
- same syllable count
- similar length
Maya
* From Maria, ultimately from Hebrew, * From Maia, from Latin, from Ancient Greek Μαῖα (Maîa) Transliteration of Sanskrit माया (māyā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Max
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adam
Middle English Adam English Adam From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ajax
From Latin Aiāx, from Ancient Greek Αἴᾱς (Aíās).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends X
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Max
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adam
Middle English Adam English Adam From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection