Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Maksim

Maksim

♂ Boy

Pronounced mk-SEEM /mɐk.ˈsʲim/Medium

Meaning: GreatestMedium

In 30 seconds: Maksim is the Russian form of the Latin name Maximus, meaning 'greatest'.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumRussian, Macedonian, Belarusian
MeaningGreatest
U.S. rank (2025)#2466 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births55 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2011
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,678

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201119932025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The name traces to Latin Maximus, 'greatest', which Russian and other Slavic languages render as Maksim. It belongs to a broad family that includes Maxim, Maksym, Maximus, and Maximilianus. Across all of them, the sense of being the greatest carries through.

Bearers include the Ukrainian-American dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy (born 1980), widely known from Dancing with the Stars, and footballer Maksim Kanunnikov (born 1991). The 'ks' spelling marks the Slavic route into the name, as against the Western Maxim or Maximus.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Maksim is 'greatest', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Maksim — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MaximMaksymMaxentiusMaximusMaximilianus

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Maksim Chmerkovskiy (1980–present)
    Ukrainian-American professional dancer who is widely known for his work on "Dancing with the Stars", which is an American dancing competition television series. He appeared on t...
  • ★Maksim Kanunnikov (1991–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Maksim…

Maxim— a closely related spelling of the same 'greatest' name
Maximus— the Latin source name meaning 'greatest'
Max— the common short form shared across this Maximus family
Yakov— a similarly popular pick
Anton— a fellow Russian choice

Explore names like Maksim

By themerussian

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Maksim mean?

Maksim is usually explained as meaning 'greatest' and is most often linked with Russian tradition.

How do you pronounce Maksim?

It's commonly said mk-SEEM /mɐk.ˈsʲim/.

Is Maksim a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Maksim is used as a boy name.

How popular is Maksim?

In 2024, Maksim ranked #1921 in the U.S. for boys, with 82 births recorded.

💬 Ask Nia