Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Maximilian
BoyLatin· “greatest”
- Meaning
- greatest
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- mak-sih-MIHL-yuhn
- Syllables
- 5
- US rank 2025
- #590
- US babies 2025
- 497
- Best rank
- #429 (2013)
- Peak year
- 2016
Meaning and origin of Maximilian
Maximilian is a Latin name that means “greatest”.
Maximilian comes from the Latin Maximilianus, a Roman name derived from Maximus, "greatest". It became a Habsburg dynastic name through the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, who reigned around the turn of the sixteenth century, and it was later borne by kings of Bavaria and by Maximilian, the Austrian archduke who became emperor of Mexico. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish priest who gave his life for another prisoner at Auschwitz, is a revered modern bearer. The name feels grand and cosmopolitan, yet it shortens easily to Max. Maxi and Milan are other options, and Maximiliano is the Spanish form.
Popularity over time
Maximilian first appears in US Social Security records in 1907. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 40 different years, starting in 1986. Its best national rank was #429 in 2013, and the most babies received it in 2016, when 717 were named Maximilian. In 2025, 497 babies were named Maximilian, and it ranked #590 nationally. That is 29% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,897 in 1920, #1,560 in 1980, #478 in 2000, #435 in 2010, and #590 in 2025. Of the 18,940 US boys named Maximilian since records began, 34% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 5,101 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Jamison, Moses, Johan, Pierce, and Princeton.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Maximilian ranked highest in Connecticut, Illinois, and Washington.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | #315 | 10 |
| Illinois | #331 | 33 |
| Washington | #359 | 21 |
| New York | #415 | 42 |
| Massachusetts | #428 | 12 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Maximilian is usually pronounced mak-sih-MIHL-yuhn, with five syllables. It has ten letters, starts with M and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Maximilian
A few middle names that flow with Maximilian: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Maximilian
Similar names
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suh-BAS-chuhn
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FAY-bee-uhn
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Lucian Boy
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Joan Unisex
JOHN
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Cassian Boy
KAS-ee-uhn
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Christian Boy
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Julian Boy
JOO-lee-uhn
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Victor Boy
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“conqueror” · Latin
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Maximiliano Boy
mahk-see-mee-lee-AH-noh
“greatest; form of Maximilian” · Spanish
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Titus Boy
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“uncertain; a Roman given name” · Latin
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Magnus Boy
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“great” · Latin
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Juan Boy
WAHN
“God is gracious” · Spanish
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Lists that include Maximilian
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maximilian mean?
Maximilian is a Latin name that means “greatest”.
What is the origin of the name Maximilian?
Maximilian has Latin roots. Maximilian comes from the Latin Maximilianus, a Roman name derived from Maximus, "greatest".
Is Maximilian a popular name?
Yes. Maximilian ranked #590 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Maximilian a boy or girl name?
Maximilian is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Maximilian?
Maximilian is usually pronounced mak-sih-MIHL-yuhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings