Given name & surname
Maximilian
“the greatest”
Maximilian is used as a given name and a surname. One Latin interpretation is “the greatest.”
Original LatinMaximilianus
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Latin interpretation is “the greatest.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
Maximilian is a diminutive of Maximus. In German usage, Maximilian developed from Maximilianus.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1907. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Maximilian through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 18,940
- 18,940 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 717 babies
- 2025
- 497
- #590 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 497 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 590 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 20.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 717 in 2016. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (74). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 13,129 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Maximilian’s family of names
In German usage, Maximilian has a diminutive in Max. In German usage, Maximilian has a feminine form in MAXIMILIANA. Maximilian has a related form in Maximo.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Maximilian has relatives in 18 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
Latinwhere Maximilian comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 30
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Maxdiminutive · German, English
- Maximusvariant
- Maximilianovariant · Portuguese, Spanish
- Maximovariant
- Massimovariant
- Maximshort form · German
- Maximillianvariant · English
- Maksimvariant
Show 22 moreShow fewer
- Maximinovariant
- Maksymvariant
- Maxievariant
- Maximevariant
- Massimilianovariant · Italian
- Maximosvariant
- Maxishort form
- Maximilienvariant · French
- Maksymilianvariant · Polish
- Maxydiminutive · English
- Maximousvariant
- Maxymilianvariant
- Maximillienvariant
- Maxximilianlikely variant
- Maxanenvariant
- Maxinenvariant
- Maksimilianvariant
- Maxymillianvariant
- Maximilianusvariant · Latin
- Maxemilianvariant
- Maxemilionvariant
- Maxemillianvariant
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 22
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Maximilian
- Max PlanckGerman theoretical physicist (1858–1947)
- Max WeberGerman sociologist, philosopher, and political economist (1864–1920)
- Maximilian I, Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman Emperor (1459-1519)
- Maximilian SchellSwiss and Austrian film and stage actor (1930–2014)
- Max ErnstGerman artist (1891–1976)
- Maximilian II, Holy Roman EmperorKing of the Romans, King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia (1527-1576)
- Maximilian Kolbesixsevenish Conventual Franciscan friar, martyr and saint of the Roman Catholic Church (1894–1941)
- Maximilian I Joseph of BavariaKing of Bavaria1756–1825
- Max RegerGerman composer, pianist and conductor (1873-1916)
Characters named Maximilian: Maximilian Veers (fictional character the Star Wars universe).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
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