Greatest, through the Max–Maximilian naming tradition.
One documented chain is Mac as a Max diminutive, with Max used for Maximilian. The German Maximilian entry traces Latin Maximilianus to Maximus, the greatest, and separately records a later royal combination story. Max can also represent Maxwell, and Mac can be a surname-based nickname. Those distinct routes are not assigned this meaning; the licensed son of gloss is not applied to every Mac.
Origin
Max diminutive, with separate surname-based nickname uses
The entry explicitly records a Max short form and, separately, nicknames for people with Mac- or Mc- surnames. Computer-brand and other lexical senses are not given-name origins.
English pronunciation
/mæk/
Recorded English reading; the given-name short form is distinct from computer and surname-only senses.
Recorded English reading, as published. Accents and preferred pronunciations can differ.
Published name usage
Counts apply only to the exact spelling, place, year and recorded usage shown. Places are separate; these figures are never added into a worldwide total. Missing or suppressed records never mean zero.
Latest published record available for this spelling in each place and recorded usage
Place
Year
Recorded usage
Published births
Rank
Notes
Canada
2025
Boys
27 · preliminary
943
2025 figures are preliminary. Quebec counts below five are randomly imputed by the publisher before national aggregation. Accents are removed in the source; this profile was matched only where the catalog spelling was unambiguous. Unpublished values are unknown, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
France
2022
Boys
5 (rounded to 5)
7260
Counts are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. Ranks use unrounded publisher counts with randomly ordered ties; equally rounded counts can have different ranks. National coverage excludes Mayotte before 2012. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Automated direction labels are withheld for this rounded-count series. Rank basis: source published.
England & Wales
2025
Boys
42
782
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Northern Ireland
2025
Boys
3
395
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Scotland
2025
Boys
19
219
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Ireland
2024
Boys
6
520
Names below three occurrences are unpublished. Accent recording changed in 2018; comparisons across that boundary may not describe the same spelling coverage. Counts refer to registrations in the year. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
United States
2025
Girls
5
14942
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
United States
2025
Boys
390
695
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
Canada, Ireland and France coverage includes confidently matched existing profiles only; unmatched spellings are awaiting review. French counts are rounded to five.
Sources & notes
Open an entry for its source, credit, licence and full qualifications. Different name traditions remain separate.
Language of use: English
Checked against cited source
The exact English entry explicitly records given-name or personal short-name use. A short form does not determine any bearer’s full name; statistics remain separate.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Meaning: Greatest, through the Max–Maximilian naming tradition.
Checked against cited source
One documented chain is Mac as a Max diminutive, with Max used for Maximilian. The German Maximilian entry traces Latin Maximilianus to Maximus, the greatest, and separately records a later royal combination story. Max can also represent Maxwell, and Mac can be a surname-based nickname. Those distinct routes are not assigned this meaning; the licensed son of gloss is not applied to every Mac.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Short form of: Max
Checked against cited source
Relationship explicitly documented in the reviewed English given-name section. Spelling-specific counts remain separate.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Origin: Max diminutive, with separate surname-based nickname uses
Checked against cited source
The entry explicitly records a Max short form and, separately, nicknames for people with Mac- or Mc- surnames. Computer-brand and other lexical senses are not given-name origins.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
English pronunciation: /mæk/
Checked against cited source
Recorded English reading; the given-name short form is distinct from computer and surname-only senses.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Supporting evidence: Maximilian · Latin Maximus ancestry
Checked against cited source
Supporting source for the qualified longer-name interpretation. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; wording adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Supporting evidence: Max · Maximilian and Maxwell short forms
Checked against cited source
Supporting source for the qualified longer-name interpretation. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; wording adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
Credit: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
License: Statistics Canada Open Licence
Adaptation: Adapted from Statistics Canada, First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators, Table 17-10-0147-01, reference years 1991–2025. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.
Credit: Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.
License: CC BY 4.0
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: joined the published count and rank indicators and matched unambiguous existing spellings. Source values retained.
Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
Credit: Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
License: Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab)
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: column names and sex codes mapped and unique case-only spellings matched to existing profiles. Published rounded counts and ranks retained.