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Maxwell

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAKS-wel /ˈmæks.wɛl/High

Meaning: Mack's well or great stream — from Old English <em>Maccus</em> (a personal name, possibly meaning 'great') + <em>wella</em> (well, stream)High

In 30 seconds: A Scottish place-name meaning 'Mack's stream,' Maxwell projects quiet intellectual strength — borne by the great physicist James Clerk Maxwell and effortlessly pairing the popular nickname Max with an established full name.
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Origin HighOld English, Scottish
MeaningMack's well or great stream — from Old English <em>Maccus</em> (a personal name, possibly meaning 'great') + <em>wella</em> (well, stream)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 90,110

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201418802017

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

History & Origin

Maxwell is a Scottish place-name and surname derived from Old English Maccus (possibly a form of the Old Norse personal name Makkr, related to 'great') and wella (well, stream). The place Maxwell in the Scottish Borders gave rise to the powerful Maxwell clan. The physicist James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) is the most celebrated bearer.

Maxwell has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since at least the 19th century. In the United States it gained momentum from the 2000s onward, entering the top 200 boys' names. It appeals to parents who want the popular nickname Max with a full name that has intellectual and Scottish heritage weight.

Did you know? James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) is widely considered the third-greatest physicist in history after Newton and Einstein. His equations describing electromagnetism laid the foundation for radio, television, and modern physics — Albert Einstein kept a portrait of Maxwell on his study wall.

Variations

Maxwel

Nicknames

MaxMack

Famous Bearers

  • ★James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879)
    Scottish physicist whose equations of electromagnetism are considered among the greatest achievements in science.

If you like Maxwell…

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Maxwell mean?

Maxwell is a Scottish place-name meaning 'Mack's well' or 'great stream,' from Old English <em>Maccus</em> and <em>wella</em> (well, stream).

How do you pronounce Maxwell?

Maxwell is pronounced MAKS-wel /ˈmæks.wɛl/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Maxwell a boy or girl name?

Maxwell is used primarily as a boys' name.

How popular is Maxwell?

Maxwell entered the U.S. top 200 boys' names in the 2000s and continues to grow, valued for giving the popular nickname Max a full-name foundation.