"greatest, largest (from Latin Maximus)"
Origin: Latin
Language: English
Max
Pronunciation: [ m-AKS ]
Girl Name
#3,494 Most Popular
Hidden Gem
1 Syllable
The greatest -- bold and gender-free
English
American
German
European
Bold
Strong
Modern
Minimalist
Vintage
Meaning & Origin
The Story of Max
Max derives from the Latin Maximus meaning greatest or largest, the superlative of magnus (great). Long used as a nickname for Maximilian, Maxwell, and Maxine, Max has gained independent popularity as a bold, standalone name for both boys and girls. For girls, it represents the growing trend of traditionally masculine names crossing over to feminine use.
Max for girls gained significant traction in the 2010s through the character Max Mayfield in Stranger Things (played by Sadie Sink), which made the name feel cool and adventurous for girls. It joins names like Charlie, Billie, and Sam as gender-neutral names that skew feminine.
Max as a girl's name challenges traditional gender naming conventions. Cultural touchstones include Max Mayfield from Stranger Things, Max from the children's book series Where the Wild Things Are, and the general trend toward gender-neutral names in contemporary American culture.
Fun Facts
- Max Mayfield from Stranger Things (played by Sadie Sink) popularized the name for girls
- Max has been a top-10 name for boys in Germany for years
- Max is one of the few one-syllable names that works equally well for any gender
Max in Other Languages
Latin
Maximus
French
Max
German
Max
Spanish
Max
Japanese
マックス
Famous People Named Max
M
Max Martin
Musician
1971
Swedish songwriter and producer, one of the most successful songwriters in pop music history
M
Max Mayfield Fictional
Other
Beloved fictional character from Netflix's Stranger Things, played by Sadie Sink -- popularized the name for girls
M
Max (Where the Wild Things Are) Fictional
Other
Young protagonist of Maurice Sendak's classic 1963 picture book, adventurous and imaginative
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 1
- Popularity Rank
- #3,494
- Total SSA Count
- 45
- Cultural Origins
- English American German European
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Max
Pairs Well With
Max Rose
Max Grace
Max Louise
Max Jane
Max Claire
Max Ellie
Max Wren
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Max is also used as a boy name, ranked #175.
View Max as a boy name →Similar Names
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
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Frequently Asked Questions About Max
What does the name Max mean?
"greatest, largest (from Latin Maximus)" (from Latin). Max derives from the Latin Maximus meaning greatest or largest, the superlative of magnus (great). Long used as a nickname for Maximilian, Maxwell, and Maxine, Max has gained independent popularity as a bold, standalone name for both boys and girls. For girls, it represents the growing trend of traditionally masculine names crossing over to feminine use.
What is the origin of the name Max?
Max has Latin, English, American, German, and European origins. In Latin, it means "greatest, largest (from Latin Maximus)".
Is Max a boy or girl name?
Max is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #3494. As a boy name, it is ranked #175. Max is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Max?
Max is pronounced m-AKS.
How popular is the name Max?
Max is currently ranked #3494 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Max?
Common nicknames for Max include Max.
What are good middle names for Max?
Popular middle name pairings include Max Rose, Max Grace, Max Louise, Max Jane, Max Claire, Max Ellie, and Max Wren.
What are good sibling names for Max?
Names that pair well with Max as siblings include Charlie, Billie, Sam, Alex, Jordan, Quinn, and Riley.
How many syllables does Max have?
Max has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Max a common or rare name?
Max is an uncommon name, ranked #3494 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
About the Name Max
Max is a girl name with English, American, German, and European origins . The name means "greatest, largest (from Latin Maximus)" in Latin .
Is Max a boy or girl name? Max is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #3,494 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #175. Max is more commonly used as a boy name.
Max is currently ranked #3,494 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Max has 1 syllable and is pronounced m-AKS, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Max include Max. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Max include Maxine, Maxwell . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.