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BabyNames
Boy name#293 of boy names

Maxwell

Pronounced M AE1 K S W EH2 L (ARPABET)

  • 2 syllables
  • Peaked 2014
  • 145 years in use
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How popular is Maxwell?

Maxwell is a boys' name, and has been in the record since the data starts in 1880. It has been given to 107,530 children — the 293rd most common boys' name on record.

Its use has been broadly flat across the past two decades. Its best single year was 2014, when 3,739 children were given it.

01,2502,5003,7505,00018901920195019802010
2014Boys: 3,739Girls: 34

Nicknames

Common short forms: Max.

Characteristics

  • 2 syllables
Phonetic detail
Pronunciations:
M AE1 K S W EH2 L
Stress pattern:
12
Syllables:
2

Stress digits mark unstressed (0), primary (1) and secondary (2) syllables.

Names like Maxwell

Same first letter and syllable count, peaking around the same time.

Sibling names for Maxwell

Names from the same era with a matching rhythm but a different initial.

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Maxwell?
Maxwell ranks 293rd among boys' names in US records, with 107,530 births since 1880. Over the past decade it accounts for 26,850.
Is Maxwell a unisex name?
No. Maxwell is recorded almost entirely as a boys' name; births to the other gender are too few to register as a share.
When was Maxwell most popular?
2014, when 3,739 children were given the name. It has been in use for 145 years and is still recorded as of 2024.
What are common nicknames for Maxwell?
Max. These are recorded as separate names in their own right, so each has its own page and its own popularity curve.