Given name & surname
Maximus
“the greatest”
Maximus is a variant of Maximilian. One Latin interpretation is “the greatest.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Maximus is a variant of Maximilian. One Latin interpretation is “the greatest.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Maximus is a variant of Maximilian. An origin associated with Maximilian is Latin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1997. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Maximus through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 34,679
- 34,662 boys · 17 girls
- Most popular year
- 2014
- 2,137 babies
- 2025
- 1,249
- #276 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,249 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 276 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 33.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 2,137 in 2014. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (210). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 23,038 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.
Maximus’s family of names
In English usage, Maximus has a diminutive in Max. In Greek usage, Maximus has a feminine form in Μάξιμη. Maximus has a related form in Maximilian.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Maximus has relatives in 14 languages.
12 related names in 14 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 24
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Maximilianoequivalent
- Massimoderivative · Italian
- Maximequivalent
- Maximillianequivalent
- Macsenderivative · Welsh
- Maksymequivalent
- Massimilianoequivalent
- Maksymilianequivalent
Show 16 moreShow fewer
- Maximilienequivalent
- Maxmiliánequivalent
- Maximiliaanequivalent
- Maksimasequivalent
- Màsimequivalent
- Maksimilijanequivalent
- Maksimaequivalent
- Максимderivative · Russian, Macedonian
- Максимъderivative · orv
- Μάξιμοςderivative · Greek, Ancient Greek
- Маѯимъderivative · cu
- Маѯимеderivative · zle-ono
- Максімderivative · Belarusian
- Μάξιμηfeminine form · Greek
- Máximoborrowing · Portuguese, Spanish
- Maksimsderivative · Latvian
People named Maximus
- Pope Maximus of AlexandriaPatriarch of Alexandria from 264 to 282250–282
- Maximus OngkiliMalaysian politicianborn 1953
- Maximus von ImhofGreek physicist (1758-1817)
- Maximus II of AntiochPatriarch of Antioch401–401
- Maximus of PaviaBishop of Pavia450–511
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
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