Declining since 2013, #1,520 for boys today.
Popularity of Maxim since 1923
Babies named Maxim per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 13 |
| 1930s | 10 |
| 1940s | 39 |
| 1950s | 25 |
| 1960s | 32 |
| 1970s | 36 |
| 1980s | 182 |
| 1990s | 598 |
| 2000s | 2,230 |
| 2010s | 2,898 |
| 2020s | 929 |
Meaning & origin
Maxim is a Latin-derived name meaning 'the greatest,' rooted in the ancient Roman cognomen Maximus. It has been in consistent use in the United States since at least 1923, but it reached its peak popularity in 2012, when it ranked much higher than its current position. Since 2013, its trajectory has been falling, reflecting a broader shift away from formal Latinate names. As of 2025, it ranks 1520th in the U.S., with about 1 in 14,983 boys given the name. Maxim is most popular in Colorado, Washington, and New York, suggesting a preference among educated, urban families.
Maxim is derived from the Latin name Maximus, meaning 'the greatest.' It was a common cognomen in ancient Rome, borne by several early saints and emperors. The name was adopted in Eastern Europe via the Christian tradition and has remained popular in Russia and other Slavic countries.
Where Maxim is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Maxim” around the world
Where Maxim lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Quebec
29
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Max, Maxie
Sibling names for Maxim
Names that share Maxim's style, for a brother or sister.
