Home › Baby Names Directory › Maximilian

Maximilian

♂ Boy

Pronounced mak-sih-MIL-ee-an /ˌmæk.sɪˈmɪl.i.ən/High

Meaning: From Latin Maximilianus, a blend of Maximus ('the greatest') and Aemilianus (from the Aemilii family), coined by Emperor Frederick III to honor both Roman names simultaneouslyHigh

In 30 seconds: Maximilian is a magnificent five-syllable Habsburg name created by fusing Maximus and Aemilianus. Grand yet nickname-friendly, it is rising strongly on modern charts.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighLatin
MeaningFrom Latin Maximilianus, a blend of Maximus ('the greatest') and Aemilianus (from the Aemilii family), coined by Emperor Frederick III to honor both Roman names simultaneously
U.S. rank (2025)#590 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births497 boys (0.03% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 18,937

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619072025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Maximilian was created by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III in 1459 for his son and heir, who became Emperor Maximilian I. Frederick combined the Latin names Maximus ('greatest') and Aemilianus (from the Roman Aemilii gens), producing a compound name of extraordinary grandeur that quickly spread through European royal and noble houses.

Maximilian became a standard name in the Habsburg dynasty and spread through Catholic Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. In the modern United States, it has risen strongly since the 2000s, with Max as a popular short form. It now ranks in the U.S. top 200 boys' names, appreciated for its combination of classical gravitas and nickname versatility.

Did you know? Emperor Frederick III invented the name Maximilian in 1459 for his son — blending Maximus and Aemilianus to honor both Roman families — making Maximilian one of the very few documented cases in history of a name being deliberately coined by a head of state.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Maximilian — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MaximusMaximoMaximilienMaximillian

Nicknames

MaxMaxiMaxie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1459–1519)
    Holy Roman Emperor whose father coined the name; one of the most important rulers of the early modern period.

If you like Maximilian…

Maximus— the Latin root from which Maximilian was constructed
Sebastian— five-syllable Greco-Latin imperial name with the same regal grandeur
Augustine— multi-syllable Latin saint's name with the same blend of classical and Catholic heritage
Leopold— Germanic royal name with the same Habsburg-era aristocratic register

Frequently Asked

What does the name Maximilian mean?

Maximilian was coined from Latin Maximus ('the greatest') and Aemilianus, giving it the meaning 'the greatest rival' or simply 'the greatest.'

How do you pronounce Maximilian?

It is said mak-sih-MIL-ee-an — five syllables with stress on the third.

Is Maximilian a boy or girl name?

Maximilian is exclusively a boys' name; the feminine form is Maximiliana or Maximilienne.

How popular is Maximilian?

Maximilian ranks in the U.S. top 200 boys' names and is growing, with Max as a widely used short form.