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Max
Pronounced MAKS /ˈmæks/High
Meaning: Greatest; short form of Maxine, Maxima, and the Maximilian family, from Latin maximusHigh
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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
Max abbreviates the Latin maximus family — 'greatest' — through Maximilian for boys and Maxine (a 1930s favorite) for girls. Used alone for daughters, it joined the borrowed-boys'-name lane of Charlie and Frankie, accelerating when Stranger Things wrote its skateboarding Max in 2017.
Borrowed-from-the-boys nicknames spread steadily through the 2010s, and Max for daughters rode that current alongside Charlie and Stevie. As a girl's legal name it remains rare and intentionally bold, with Maxine waiting formally behind it.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Max mean?
Max means 'greatest', from Latin maximus, short for Maxine or the Maximilian family.
How do you pronounce Max?
It's said MAKS /ˈmæks/ — a single syllable.
Is Max a boy or girl name?
Max is mostly a boy's name; this page covers its bold, growing use for girls.
How popular is Max?
Max is a rare legal name for girls in the U.S., though pop culture keeps it visible.