Max is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #44 in 2024. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Latin — Greatest
⭐
UK Rank 2024
#44
US Rank #175
About the Name Max
Max is holding steady in the rankings at #44. It reached its peak of #18 in 2012 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 23 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
In terms of origin, Max is rooted in Latin, where it means "Greatest". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Max is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #175 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Max
Unlikely. With around 1,140 UK babies named Max per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Max in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Max has held a stable position around #44 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #18 in 2012 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Max has Latin origins and means "Greatest". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Max appears in the US top 500 at #175 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
1,140
UK babies named Max (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.6
In a school of 600
↓ 11 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Max
Likely around 1 other Max in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Max
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Louis Octave Maxime Le Verrier, known more commonly as Max Le Verrier, also known by the pseudonym Artus, was a French sculptor. He was known for being a pioneer within the Parisian Art Deco movement, creating decorative art objects often made in bronze as well as historical sculptures.
Max Ehrmann was an American writer, poet, and attorney from Terre Haute, Indiana, widely known for his 1927 prose poem "Desiderata" (Latin: "things desired"). He often wrote on spiritual themes.
Maxwell Steven Muncy is an American professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Baylor Bears.