Given name & surname
Maxim
“the greatest”
Maxim is a variant of Maximilian. One Latin interpretation is “the greatest.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Maxim is a variant of Maximilian. One Latin interpretation is “the greatest.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
In German usage, Maxim is a short form of Maximilian. In German usage, Maxim is a short form of MAXIMIN.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1923. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Maxim through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,998
- 6,992 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 2012
- 346 babies
- 2025
- 114
- #1,524 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 114 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,524 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 34.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 346 in 2012. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,803 as a first name in 2020; 1,546 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Maxim’s family of names
In German usage, Maxim is a short form of Maximilian. Maxim shares a linguistic root with Maximo. In English usage, Maxim has a conventional equivalent in the Italian form Massimo.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Maxim has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
9 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 10
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Maximusequivalent
- Maximocognate
- Massimorelated form · Italian
- Maksimequivalent
- Maksymequivalent
- Maximecognate · French
- Maksimsequivalent
- Максімequivalent
Show 2 moreShow fewer
People named Maxim
- Maxim KontsevichRussian-born French mathematician and Fields Medallistborn 1964
- Maxim De CuyperBelgian association football player (born 2000)
- MaximBritish singer, rapper and musicianborn 1967
- Maxim Van GilsBelgian cyclistborn 1999
- Maxim MehmetGerman actorborn 1975
- Maxim RodshteinIsraeli chess playerborn 1989
- Maxim LapierreCanadian professional ice hockey playerborn 1985
- Maxim TissotCanadian professional soccer playerborn 1992
- Maksim ShtraukhSoviet actor and theatre director (1900–1974)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Maxim, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Max
“the greatest” · “from Mack's spring”
98% boys · 2% girls
Màsim
Màsim is a masculine given name from Latin. It is used in Emilian.
>99% boys
Corbin
“resembling a crow; as dark as a raven” · “resembling a raven”
99% boys · 1% girls
Arjan
Arjan is a masculine given name from Latin. It is used in Dutch and Albanian.
>99% boys
Porter
“the doorkeeper” · “the gatekeeper”
91% boys · 9% girls
Maximiano
Maximiano is a given name from Latin. It is used in Spanish.
>99% boys
Titus
“of the giants” · “a great defender”
>99% boys
Miqueas
Miqueas is a given name from Latin. It is used in Spanish.
>99% boys