Declining since 2014, #189 for boys today.
Popularity of Maxwell since 1880
Babies named Maxwell per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 72 |
| 1890s | 131 |
| 1900s | 230 |
| 1910s | 1,210 |
| 1920s | 1,158 |
| 1930s | 737 |
| 1940s | 641 |
| 1950s | 723 |
| 1960s | 632 |
| 1970s | 967 |
| 1980s | 5,808 |
| 1990s | 20,909 |
| 2000s | 30,049 |
| 2010s | 32,449 |
| 2020s | 13,016 |
Meaning & origin
Maxwell has been a steady presence in U.S. naming since 1880, the earliest year of Social Security records. Its peak came in 2014, when it ranked highest, but it has since been falling in popularity. As of 2025, it ranks 189th, with about 1 in 888 newborn boys receiving the name. The name is particularly favored in Washington D.C., Rhode Island, and Vermont, where it appears most frequently among top states. Maxwell is a strong, traditional choice rooted in Scottish heritage, offering the friendly nickname Max without sacrificing formality.
Maxwell is a Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning 'Mack's stream' or 'Mack's spring' (from the personal name Mack and Old English wella 'spring, stream'). The name originally referred to a location near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, and the Maxwell family became powerful lords in southwestern Scotland. As a given name, Maxwell gained popularity in the 19th century, influenced by the surname tradition and notable bearers.
Where Maxwell 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.
“Maxwell” around the world
Where Maxwell lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
New Zealand
28
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Max, Well
Variants: Maxwel
Sibling names for Maxwell
Names that share Maxwell's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Charlotte, Eleanor, Vivian, Amelia, Grace, Maxine, Calista, Casandra, Mallorie, Maxie, Vienna, Corrinne, Madysen, Brittania, Maxcine, Alexsia, Amberrose, Macaela, Madisun, Massie, Rexanna
Brothers: Alexander, Benjamin, Samuel, Nathaniel, Harrison, Marquette, Mykael, Dartanian, Markcus, Martel, Marvyn, Mayes, Mickell, Milam, Mithcell, Mayjor
Names like Maxwell
Names whose popularity has moved with Maxwell's over the last 50 years.
