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Name Lineage

    The first name Maxim

    A boy’s name from Latin meaning “greatest”, “great”.

    2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Latin origin

    Maxim means “greatest”, “great” in Latin.

    * As a given name, from Latin Maximus (“greatest”), superlative of magnus (“great”). Borne by several early Christian saints. * As a French or Dutch surname, from the given name. * For the machine gun, named after American and British inventor Hiram Maxim (1840–1916).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 65 boys were named Maxim, making it the 593rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 99 births (#416).

    050100 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,937
    babies named Maxim, 1996–2025
    #593
    rank in 2025
    2015
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Maxim with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Maxim at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 114 boys born in the United States were named Maxim, the 1,524th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2012, when 346 were.

    0200400 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    6,998
    babies named Maxim since 1880
    #1,524
    rank in 2025
    2012
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Maxam

    Famous people named Maxim

    14 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Éric Maxim Choupo-Moting
      Cameroonian association football player, born 1989
    • Maxim De Cuyper
      Belgian association football player (born 2000)
    • Maxim Reality
      British singer, rapper and musician, born 1967
    • Maxim Van Gils
      Belgian cyclist, born 1999
    • Maxim Mehmet
      German actor, born 1975
    • Maxim Lapierre
      Canadian professional ice hockey player, born 1985
    • Maxim Leitsch
      Association football player, born 1998
    • Maxim Tissot
      Canadian professional soccer player, born 1992
    • Maxim Roy
      Canadian actress, born 1972
    • Maxim Noreau
      Canadian ice hockey defenceman, born 1987
    • Maxim Knight
      American child actor, born 1999
    • Maximus of Aveia
      Christian deacon and martyr, 228–250

    More Latin boys’ names

    All 381 names of Latin origin

    Questions

    What does the name Maxim mean?
    Maxim means “greatest”, “great” in Latin.
    What is the origin of the name Maxim?
    * As a given name, from Latin Maximus (“greatest”), superlative of magnus (“great”). Borne by several early Christian saints. * As a French or Dutch surname, from the given name. * For the machine gun, named after American and British inventor Hiram Maxim (1840–1916).
    How popular is the name Maxim?
    In 2025, 65 boys born in England and Wales were named Maxim, ranking 593rd. Its peak was 2015, with 99 births.
    Is Maxim a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 6,998 US babies named Maxim since 1880 were boys.
    When was Maxim most popular?
    2012 in the United States, when 346 babies were named Maxim, its highest rank at 687th.
    What are other spellings of Maxim?
    Maxam.
    Is Maxim also a surname?
    Yes. Maxim is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.