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Name Lineage

    The first name Maxwell

    A boy’s name from English meaning “mack's well”, “spring”, “well”.

    Pronounced /ˈmækswɛl/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Maxwell means “mack's well”, “spring”, “well” in English.

    From an earlier form Mackeswell, meaning "Mack's well or spring", from Old English welle (“well”).

    More names that mean water.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 274 boys were named Maxwell, making it the 183rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2013, with 526 births (#114).

    0300600 1996200020052010201520202025
    10,280
    babies named Maxwell, 1996–2025
    #183
    rank in 2025
    2013
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Maxwell at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 1,924 boys born in the United States were named Maxwell, the 189th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2014, when 3,739 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    109,467
    babies named Maxwell since 1880
    #189
    rank in 2025
    2014
    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.

    Famous people named Maxwell

    44 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Maxwell
      Brazilian footballer, born 1981
    • Maxwell Anderson
      American playwright and writer (1888–1959)
    • Peter Maxwell Davies
      English composer and conductor (1934-2016)
    • Maxwell D. Taylor
      American military officer and diplomat (1901-1987)
    • Maxwell Jenkins
      American actor, born 2005
    • Maxwell Jacob Friedman
      American professional wrestler, born 1996
    • Maxwell Caulfield
      British actor, born 1959
    • Maxwell Frost
      American politician and activist (born 1997)
    • Maxwell Holt
      American volleyball player, born 1987
    • Anna Maxwell Martin
      British actress, born 1977
    • Maxwell Tylden Masters
      British botanist (1833-1907)
    • Maxwell Perkins
      American literary editor (1884–1947)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Maxwell mean?
    Maxwell means “mack's well”, “spring”, “well” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Maxwell?
    From an earlier form Mackeswell, meaning "Mack's well or spring", from Old English welle (“well”).
    How popular is the name Maxwell?
    In 2025, 274 boys born in England and Wales were named Maxwell, ranking 183rd. Its peak was 2013, with 526 births.
    Is Maxwell a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 109,467 US babies named Maxwell since 1880 were boys.
    When was Maxwell most popular?
    2014 in the United States, when 3,739 babies were named Maxwell, its highest rank at 107th.
    How do you pronounce Maxwell?
    Maxwell is /ˈmækswɛl/, 2 syllables.
    Is Maxwell also a surname?
    Yes. Maxwell is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.