Maxwell
How to say it: MAKS-wel · /ˈmækswɛl/
Scottish surname from a place name meaning 'Mack's stream', from Magnus + Old English 'wella' (spring, stream).
Maxwell was the 204th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,924 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2010s, its births are down about 46% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #264 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #204 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,924 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,723 |
| Peak decade | 2010s |
| Change over 10 years | −46% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #264 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After years climbing toward the 2010s, Maxwell reached its fullest point then. Still close to that peak, it is likely to ease downward in the next few years.
What goes with it
Strong with a soft edge, Maxwell sounds smooth and solid. Max is a natural short form and Graham pairs easily in style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Maxwell is about 1 in 72.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #183.
Famous people named Maxwell
- Maxwell (born 1981)Brazilian footballer
- Maxwell Anderson (1888–1959)American playwright and writer
- Maxwell D. Taylor (1901–1987)American military officer and diplomat
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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