Pronunciation: [ m-AHV ]
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One syllable, maximum personality — the original maverick
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"short form of Maverick, from Samuel Maverick's unbranded cattle"
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Start comparing →Mav is a short form of Maverick, itself derived from the name of Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803-1870), a Texas lawyer and landowner who notably refused to brand his cattle. His unbranded calves wandering the range became known as 'mavericks,' and the word entered English to mean an independent person who refuses to follow the herd. As a standalone name, Mav captures this spirit of independence in its most compressed, punchy form.
Maverick entered the US top 100 in 2018 and climbed rapidly, fueled partly by the 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick. Mav as a standalone name follows the trend of ultra-short names (Ace, Jax, Beau, Cruz) that carry maximum personality in minimum syllables. It's increasingly chosen by parents who love the Maverick meaning but want something even more distinctive.
In American culture, the maverick ideal — the independent thinker, the person who charts their own course — is deeply celebrated. From Tom Cruise's Maverick to the Dallas Mavericks NBA team, the concept permeates American culture. Choosing Mav declares aspirations for a child who will forge their own path.
Mav first appeared in US Social Security records in 2019.
Over 57 babies have been named Mav in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Mav is a new entry on the US charts , currently ranked #6,325 for boy names in the US .
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Other
1803
Texas lawyer and rancher whose refusal to brand his cattle gave birth to the English word 'maverick' meaning an independent non-conformist
Military
Tom Cruise's iconic character from Top Gun (1986) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), the rebellious Navy pilot who defines the maverick spirit
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
Timeless choice, bold style, quick 1-1 syllable combo
Timeless choice, modern style, quick 1-1 syllable combo
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
Timeless choice, modern style, quick 1-1 syllable combo
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
Timeless choice, bold style, quick 1-1 syllable combo
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Mav
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Phonetic neighbors that share Mav's rhythm, vowel shape, or consonant cluster. Tap any name to see its full "names like" list.
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Latin via Scandinavian origin
"crowned with laurel, laurel bearer"
#6,481 in US
Scottish Gaelic origin
"son of the servant of John"
#6,147 in US
Classical Arabic origin
"moral compass, soul's voice"
#6,519 in US
Hebrew origin
"Mountain of divine revelation"
#6,427 in US
Japanese kanji 勇人 origin
"brave person"
#6,168 in US
Hebrew origin
"beloved, friend"
#6,418 in US
Greek origin
"fruitful, productive"
#6,364 in US
Old English origin
"valley of Wendel"
#6,270 in US
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Mav is a boy name with Modern American origins . The name means "short form of Maverick, from Samuel Maverick's unbranded cattle" in American English .
Mav is currently ranked #6,325 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Mav has 1 syllable and is pronounced m-AHV, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Alternative spellings of Mav include Maverick, Mavrick, Maverik, Mavrik, Maven . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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