Given name & surname · also Scottish
Maxwell
“from Mack's spring”
Maxwell is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from Mack's spring.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from Mack's spring.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scottish.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Maxwell through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 109,467
- 108,732 boys · 735 girls
- Most popular year
- 2014
- 3,773 babies
- 2025
- 1,939
- #189 for boys · #7,375 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −29%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,924 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 189 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 28.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 3,739 in 2014. It also appeared in 15 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (198). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 83,285 as a first name in 2020; 65,829 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.
Maxwell’s family of names
In English usage, Maxwell has a diminutive in Max. Maxwell is a form of Magnus. In English usage, Maxwell has a nickname in Max.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Maxnickname · English
- Maxxwelllikely variant
- Maxydiminutive · English
- Maxwillvariant
- Maxwelvariant
- Mackswilvariant
- Maxwilvariant
- Mackswillvariant
Show 5 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Maxwell
- MaxwellBrazilian footballerborn 1981
- Maxwell D. TaylorAmerican military officer and diplomat (1901-1987)
- Maxie LongAmerican sprinter (1878–1959)
- Max BaucusAmerican politician (born 1941)
- Maxwell JenkinsAmerican actorborn 2005
- Maxwell Jacob FriedmanAmerican professional wrestlerborn 1996
- Maxwell CaulfieldBritish actorborn 1959
- Maxi JazzBritish musician, rapper and singer (1957–2022)
- Maxwell HoltAmerican volleyball playerborn 1987
Characters named Maxwell: Maxwell Lord (DC supervillain).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Maxwell, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Maddox
“born into wealth and prosperity” · “the son of the benefactor”
96% boys · 4% girls
Mason
“a stoneworker” · “one who works with stone”
99% boys · 1% girls
Angel
“messenger” · “messenger of God”
87% boys · 13% girls
Braxton
“from Brock's town”
99% boys · 1% girls
Tucker
“one who makes garments”
99% boys · 1% girls
Camden
“from the winding valley”
95% boys · 5% girls
Paxton
“from the peaceful town”
95% boys · 5% girls
Dallas
“from the valley meadow” · “from the dales; from the city in Texas”
74% boys · 26% girls