Max
Say it: MAX/mæks/
BoyMeans from Latin maximus, "greatest", through Maximilian3 letters1 syllable
#41
in Ireland (2025)
#42 with spellings combined
120
babies in 2025
#28
best rank (2022)
3,871
babies since 1973
Up 1
10-year rank change
Max through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 120 | #42 |
| 2024 | 158 | #34 |
| 2023 | 152 | #32 |
| 2022 | 189 | #28 |
| 2021 | 170 | #37 |
| 2020 | 140 | #43 |
| 2019 | 169 | #34 |
| 2018 | 189 | #36 |
| 2017 | 182 | #38 |
| 2016 | 214 | #35 |
| 2015 | 173 | #43 |
| 2014 | 201 | #39 |
| 2013 | 213 | #35 |
| 2012 | 232 | #34 |
| 2011 | 194 | #46 |
| 2010 | 187 | #48 |
| 2009 | 164 | #56 |
| 2008 | 165 | #56 |
| 2007 | 116 | #69 |
| 2006 | 98 | #72 |
| 2005 | 92 | #73 |
| 2004 | 67 | #88 |
| 2003 | 56 | #97 |
| 2002 | 37 | #123 |
| 2001 | 40 | #115 |
| 2000 | 33 | #129 |
| 1999 | 22 | #149 |
| 1998 | 14 | #176 |
| 1997 | 11 | #224 |
| 1996 | 11 | #208 |
| 1995 | 7 | #241 |
| 1994 | 9 | #208 |
| 1993 | 8 | #223 |
| 1992 | 5 | #267 |
| 1991 | 9 | #205 |
| 1990 | 6 | #245 |
| 1989 | 5 | #253 |
| 1988 | 4 | #271 |
| 1987 | 3 | #303 |
| 1986 | 3 | #317 |
| 1973 | 3 | #320 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Max mean?
From Latin maximus, "greatest", through Maximilian
German, a short form of Maximilian, later also of Maxwell.
Say it right
MAX
The story of Max
Max came into English from German in the nineteenth century as a short form of Maximilian. Maximilian goes back to the Roman name Maximus, from Latin maximus, “greatest”. English speakers later used Max as a short form of Maxwell too, and for girls it can be short for Maxine.
In Ireland Max was first recorded in 1973 but stayed rare until the late 1990s. Its busiest year was 2012, with 232 babies. It reached number 28 in 2022 when spellings are combined, or 27th in the CSO’s own list.
In Northern Ireland it peaked a little earlier, with a best position of 22nd, in 2015.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Max (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Max (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Max | 120 | 3,871 |
In Northern Ireland
#64 in 2025 with 36 babies. Best rank #22 (2015); 1,528 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.