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Maximus

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAK-sih-mus /ˈmæksɪməs/High

Meaning: The greatest; the largestHigh

In 30 seconds: A bold Roman name meaning 'the greatest' — and no name makes a bigger entrance. Maximus is triumphant, strong, and cinematic, the name of gladiators and emperors, equally at home on a Roman battlefield or a modern playground.
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Origin HighLatin
MeaningThe greatest; the largest
U.S. rank (2025)#276 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,249 boys (0.07% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 34,652

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201419972025

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

History & Origin

Maximus is the Latin superlative of magnus (great), meaning 'the greatest' or 'the largest.' It was used as both a Roman cognomen and a given name, borne by numerous emperors, saints, and military commanders. Saint Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662 CE) was a significant Byzantine theologian.

In modern naming, Maximus gained enormous momentum from the 2000 film Gladiator starring Russell Crowe. It has remained popular since, and is the formal version behind the widely used nicknames Max and Maximo in Latin American communities.

Did you know? The name of the fictional gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) launched a wave of Maximus births — the film's massive cultural impact was measurable in baby-name data.
Overall data confidence 98%
Behind the Name — Maximus — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MaximilianMaximoMax

Nicknames

MaxMaxi

Famous Bearers

  • ★Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662 CE)
    Byzantine Christian monk, theologian, and saint, venerated in both Eastern and Western Christianity.

If you like Maximus…

Magnus— Latin name also meaning 'great' with the same imperial Roman gravitas
Aurelius— Roman imperial name with the same grandeur and classical Latin authority
Leonidas— Greek warrior name with the same powerful, historical cinematic energy
Titan— mythological word-name with the same overwhelming sense of immense strength

Frequently Asked

What does the name Maximus mean?

Maximus is Latin for 'the greatest' — the superlative form of magnus (great).

How do you pronounce Maximus?

It is said MAK-sih-mus /ˈmæksɪməs/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Maximus a boy or girl name?

Maximus is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Maximus?

Maximus has ranked in the U.S. top 100 for boys since the mid-2000s.