Maxwell
Maxwell is a Scottish surname-turned-first-name meaning "great stream" or "Mack's stream," derived from a place name in Scotland. It combines strength with a sophisticated, gentlemanly quality that has made it increasingly popular as a given name.
Current Popularity
Popularity over time
Dashed bar: 2026 (projected): 1,880. How this is calculated
Yearly values
- 2011: 3,056
- 2012: 3,233
- 2013: 3,643
- 2014: 3,739
- 2015: 3,553
- 2016: 3,585
- 2017: 3,081
- 2018: 2,907
- 2019: 2,637
- 2020: 2,513
- 2021: 2,380
- 2022: 2,183
- 2023: 1,992
- 2024: 2,024
- 2025: 1,924
- 2026 (projected): 1,880
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce in English-speaking countries
- •The nickname Max is extremely popular and works well at any age
- •Works professionally while still feeling approachable
- •Strong Scottish heritage adds historical depth
Similar Names
Famous People
Maxwell Caulfield
Actor
James Clerk Maxwell
Physicist and mathematician
Maxwell Anderson
Playwright
Maxwell Taylor
U.S. Army General
Statistics
108,732
Total births since 1880
2014
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.