Maxwell Overview
Great stream, great spring
Boy
Scottish
Derived from the Scottish surname “Macswell,” meaning “Mack’s stream,” which originated from the Old English words “maccus” (a person’s name) and “wella” (stream). Over time, it evolved to “Maxwell.”
/ˈmæk.swɛl/
Maxwell stands out as a beloved name across the globe, especially in English-speaking countries. In 2023, Maxwell was among the top 200 names for boys in the USA.
2 syllables
7 letters
9 (Humanitarian, Selfless, Creative)
Classic, Long, Vintage
Dependable, creative, thoughtful, confident
November 5th (Saint Maximus of Riez)
Maxwell Variations in Different Cultures
Maximus, Maximilian, Maxence, Maksim, Maximo
Maxy, Wellie, Maxo, Wellsy, Mally
Max, Well, Maxi, Maxie, Welly
What Is the Meaning of Maxwell?
Maxwell means “great stream” or “magnificent well.” It is often seen as a name that conveys reliability and resourcefulness, showcasing strength and dependability.
What Is the Origin of The Name Maxwell?
The name Maxwell has Scottish origins, derived from a place called Maccus’ Wael near the River Tweed. It began as a surname, evolving from the Old English elements “Maccus,” a personal name, and “wael,” meaning stream or spring, indicating a historical connection to a specific location and its prominent water features.
Maxwell Name Popularity
Popularity Chart of the Name Maxwell in the U.S. over the Years
 United States | #1622021 | #1732022 | #1832023 |
| Top 3 Rankings | #1061999 | #1072014 | #1082013 |
Annual Statistics Breakdown for Maxwell
| Year | Name Ranking | Number of Births | Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 183 (-10 from 2022) | 1983 (-198 from 2022) | 0.10829 |
| 2022 | 173 (-11 from 2021) | 2181 (-198 from 2021) | 0.11645 |
| 2021 | 162 (-16 from 2020) | 2379 (-132 from 2020) | 0.12697 |
| 2020 | 146 (+1 from 2019) | 2511 (-125 from 2019) | 0.13575 |
| 2019 | 147 (-13 from 2018) | 2636 (-267 from 2018) | 0.13716 |
| 2018 | 134 (-1 from 2017) | 2903 (-177 from 2017) | 0.14935 |
| 2017 | 133 (-22 from 2016) | 3080 (-502 from 2016) | 0.15562 |
| 2016 | 111 (+2 from 2015) | 3582 (+29 from 2015) | 0.17683 |
| 2015 | 113 (-6 from 2014) | 3553 (-186 from 2014) | 0.17379 |
| 2014 | 107 (+1 from 2013) | 3739 (+96 from 2013) | 0.18246 |
| 2013 | 108 (+5 from 2012) | 3643 (+410 from 2012) | 0.18028 |
| 2012 | 113 (+20 from 2011) | 3233 (+179 from 2011) | 0.15933 |
| 2011 | 133 No change from 2010 | 3054 (+39 from 2010) | 0.15034 |
| 2010 | 133 (-1 from 2009) | 3015 (-64 from 2009) | 0.14676 |
| 2009 | 132 (+2 from 2008) | 3079 (+21 from 2008) | 0.14517 |
| 2008 | 134 (+19 from 2007) | 3058 (+345 from 2007) | 0.14025 |
| 2007 | 153 (-4 from 2006) | 2713 (-79 from 2006) | 0.12248 |
| 2006 | 149 (-9 from 2005) | 2792 (-18 from 2005) | 0.12735 |
| 2005 | 140 (-4 from 2004) | 2810 (-117 from 2004) | 0.13209 |
| 2004 | 136 (-4 from 2003) | 2927 (-159 from 2003) | 0.13850 |
| 2003 | 132 (-3 from 2002) | 3086 (+50 from 2002) | 0.14687 |
| 2002 | 129 (-5 from 2001) | 3036 (-147 from 2001) | 0.14690 |
| 2001 | 124 (-11 from 2000) | 3183 (-181 from 2000) | 0.15389 |
| 2000 | 113 (-7 from 1999) | 3364 (+26 from 1999) | 0.16109 |
| 1999 | 106 (+30 from 1998) | 3338 (+547 from 1998) | 0.16371 |
| 1998 | 136 (+12 from 1997) | 2791 (+474 from 1997) | 0.13765 |
| 1997 | 148 (+29 from 1996) | 2317 (+416 from 1996) | 0.11598 |
| 1996 | 177 (+1 from 1995) | 1901 (+64 from 1995) | 0.09487 |
| 1995 | 178 (+4 from 1994) | 1837 (+118 from 1994) | 0.09133 |
| 1994 | 182 No change from 1993 | 1719 (-62 from 1993) | 0.08433 |
| 1993 | 182 (-11 from 1992) | 1781 (-94 from 1992) | 0.08623 |
| 1992 | 171 (+17 from 1991) | 1875 (+151 from 1991) | 0.08932 |
| 1991 | 188 (+1 from 1990) | 1724 (+99 from 1990) | 0.08133 |
| 1990 | 189 (+16 from 1989) | 1625 (+225 from 1989) | 0.07551 |
| 1989 | 205 (+12 from 1988) | 1400 (+192 from 1988) | 0.06679 |
| 1988 | 217 (+14 from 1987) | 1208 (+191 from 1987) | 0.06033 |
| 1987 | 231 (+96 from 1986) | 1017 (+409 from 1986) | 0.05215 |
| 1986 | 327 (+56 from 1985) | 608 (+141 from 1985) | 0.03164 |
| 1985 | 383 (+100 from 1984) | 467 (+168 from 1984) | 0.02427 |
| 1984 | 483 (+86 from 1983) | 299 (+79 from 1983) | 0.01593 |
| 1983 | 569 (+58 from 1982) | 220 (+29 from 1982) | 0.01181 |
| 1982 | 627 (-35 from 1981) | 191 (-18 from 1981) | 0.01012 |
| 1981 | 592 (+42 from 1980) | 209 (+20 from 1980) | 0.01122 |
| 1980 | 634 (+64 from 1979) | 189 (+39 from 1979) | 0.01019 |
| 1979 | 698 (+80 from 1978) | 150 (+33 from 1978) | 0.00837 |
| 1978 | 778 (-11 from 1977) | 117 (-6 from 1977) | 0.00685 |
| 1977 | 767 (+83 from 1976) | 123 (+27 from 1976) | 0.00720 |
| 1976 | 850 (-28 from 1975) | 96 (-6 from 1975) | 0.00588 |
| 1975 | 822 (+39 from 1974) | 102 (+16 from 1974) | 0.00629 |
| 1974 | 861 (-44 from 1973) | 86 (-8 from 1973) | 0.00528 |
| 1973 | 817 (+111 from 1972) | 94 (+20 from 1972) | 0.00583 |
| 1972 | 928 (+164 from 1971) | 74 (+18 from 1971) | 0.00442 |
| 1971 | 1092 (-141 from 1970) | 56 (-15 from 1970) | 0.00308 |
| 1970 | 951 (-90 from 1969) | 71 (-8 from 1969) | 0.00373 |
| 1969 | 861 (-5 from 1968) | 79 (+7 from 1968) | 0.00432 |
| 1968 | 856 (+100 from 1967) | 72 (+15 from 1967) | 0.00406 |
| 1967 | 956 (-55 from 1966) | 57 (-7 from 1966) | 0.00320 |
| 1966 | 901 (+19 from 1965) | 64 (-1 from 1965) | 0.00352 |
| 1965 | 920 (+53 from 1964) | 65 (+4 from 1964) | 0.00343 |
| 1964 | 973 (-37 from 1963) | 61 (-3 from 1963) | 0.00301 |
| 1963 | 936 (+71 from 1962) | 64 (+6 from 1962) | 0.00310 |
| 1962 | 1007 (+51 from 1961) | 58 (+4 from 1961) | 0.00276 |
| 1961 | 1058 (-60 from 1960) | 54 (-5 from 1960) | 0.00250 |
| 1960 | 998 (-160 from 1959) | 59 (-22 from 1959) | 0.00272 |
| 1959 | 838 (+162 from 1958) | 81 (+23 from 1958) | 0.00374 |
| 1958 | 1000 (-75 from 1957) | 58 (-9 from 1957) | 0.00269 |
| 1957 | 925 (-103 from 1956) | 67 (-15 from 1956) | 0.00306 |
| 1956 | 822 (-56 from 1955) | 82 (-8 from 1955) | 0.00382 |
| 1955 | 766 (+53 from 1954) | 90 (+12 from 1954) | 0.00431 |
| 1954 | 819 (+65 from 1953) | 78 (+12 from 1953) | 0.00377 |
| 1953 | 884 (-63 from 1952) | 66 (-7 from 1952) | 0.00330 |
| 1952 | 821 (+46 from 1951) | 73 (+8 from 1951) | 0.00370 |
| 1951 | 867 (-2 from 1950) | 65 (+2 from 1950) | 0.00340 |
| 1950 | 865 (+20 from 1949) | 63 (+3 from 1949) | 0.00346 |
| 1949 | 885 (+6 from 1948) | 60 (+1 from 1948) | 0.00333 |
| 1948 | 891 (-37 from 1947) | 59 (-7 from 1947) | 0.00331 |
| 1947 | 854 (-133 from 1946) | 66 (-16 from 1946) | 0.00355 |
| 1946 | 721 (+143 from 1945) | 82 (+30 from 1945) | 0.00497 |
| 1945 | 864 (-119 from 1944) | 52 (-17 from 1944) | 0.00379 |
| 1944 | 745 (+63 from 1943) | 69 (+3 from 1943) | 0.00497 |
| 1943 | 808 (-2 from 1942) | 66 (+2 from 1942) | 0.00454 |
| 1942 | 806 (-36 from 1941) | 64 (-1 from 1941) | 0.00454 |
| 1941 | 770 (+40 from 1940) | 65 (+6 from 1940) | 0.00518 |
| 1940 | 810 (-85 from 1939) | 59 (-9 from 1939) | 0.00497 |
| 1939 | 725 (-25 from 1938) | 68 (-7 from 1938) | 0.00600 |
| 1938 | 700 (+136 from 1937) | 75 (+22 from 1937) | 0.00660 |
| 1937 | 836 (-40 from 1936) | 53 (-6 from 1936) | 0.00485 |
| 1936 | 796 (-99 from 1935) | 59 (-16 from 1935) | 0.00554 |
| 1935 | 697 (+45 from 1934) | 75 (+7 from 1934) | 0.00701 |
| 1934 | 742 (-2 from 1933) | 68 No change from 1933 | 0.00640 |
| 1933 | 740 (-108 from 1932) | 68 (-21 from 1932) | 0.00667 |
| 1932 | 632 (+18 from 1931) | 89 (+5 from 1931) | 0.00828 |
| 1931 | 650 (-29 from 1930) | 84 (-14 from 1930) | 0.00785 |
| 1930 | 621 (-101 from 1929) | 98 (-29 from 1929) | 0.00868 |
| 1929 | 520 (+51 from 1928) | 127 (+11 from 1928) | 0.01147 |
| 1928 | 571 (+46 from 1927) | 116 (+13 from 1927) | 0.01017 |
| 1927 | 617 (+61 from 1926) | 103 (+16 from 1926) | 0.00886 |
| 1926 | 678 (-86 from 1925) | 87 (-26 from 1925) | 0.00760 |
| 1925 | 592 (-4 from 1924) | 113 (-4 from 1924) | 0.00981 |
| 1924 | 588 (-32 from 1923) | 117 (-7 from 1923) | 0.01001 |
| 1923 | 556 (-39 from 1922) | 124 (-18 from 1922) | 0.01095 |
| 1922 | 517 (+88 from 1921) | 142 (+33 from 1921) | 0.01262 |
| 1921 | 605 (-37 from 1920) | 109 (-11 from 1920) | 0.00958 |
| 1920 | 568 (-54 from 1919) | 120 (-14 from 1919) | 0.01090 |
| 1919 | 514 (-26 from 1918) | 134 (-16 from 1918) | 0.01320 |
| 1918 | 488 (-18 from 1917) | 150 (+3 from 1917) | 0.01430 |
| 1917 | 470 (+2 from 1916) | 147 No change from 1916 | 0.01532 |
| 1916 | 472 (-68 from 1915) | 147 (-29 from 1915) | 0.01592 |
| 1915 | 404 (+11 from 1914) | 176 (+44 from 1914) | 0.01998 |
| 1914 | 415 (-30 from 1913) | 132 (+11 from 1913) | 0.01932 |
| 1913 | 385 (-22 from 1912) | 121 (+8 from 1912) | 0.02256 |
| 1912 | 363 (+46 from 1911) | 113 (+64 from 1911) | 0.02503 |
| 1911 | 409 (+12 from 1910) | 49 (+8 from 1910) | 0.02030 |
| 1910 | 421 (+52 from 1909) | 41 (+12 from 1909) | 0.01966 |
| 1909 | 473 (+2 from 1908) | 29 (+2 from 1908) | 0.01640 |
| 1908 | 475 (+20 from 1907) | 27 (+5 from 1907) | 0.01623 |
| 1907 | 495 (-95 from 1906) | 22 (-7 from 1906) | 0.01387 |
| 1906 | 400 (+63 from 1905) | 29 (+6 from 1905) | 0.02013 |
| 1905 | 463 (+75 from 1904) | 23 (+6 from 1904) | 0.01606 |
| 1904 | 538 (-11 from 1903) | 17 No change from 1903 | 0.01227 |
| 1903 | 527 (-139 from 1902) | 17 (-9 from 1902) | 0.01315 |
| 1902 | 388 (+65 from 1901) | 26 (+8 from 1901) | 0.01959 |
| 1901 | 453 (+37 from 1900) | 18 (-4 from 1900) | 0.01557 |
| 1900 | 490 (+93 from 1899) | 22 (+10 from 1899) | 0.01357 |
| 1899 | 583 (-60 from 1898) | 12 (-4 from 1898) | 0.01042 |
| 1898 | 523 (-112 from 1897) | 16 (-5 from 1897) | 0.01211 |
| 1897 | 411 (+107 from 1896) | 21 (+5 from 1896) | 0.01722 |
| 1896 | 518 (+61 from 1895) | 16 (+3 from 1895) | 0.01240 |
| 1895 | 579 (+208 from 1894) | 13 (+5 from 1894) | 0.01027 |
| 1894 | 787 (-249 from 1893) | 8 (-5 from 1893) | 0.00641 |
| 1893 | 538 (+150 from 1892) | 13 (+3 from 1892) | 0.01074 |
| 1892 | 688 (+78 from 1891) | 10 (+3 from 1891) | 0.00761 |
| 1891 | 766 (-277 from 1890) | 7 (-8 from 1890) | 0.00641 |
| 1890 | 489 (+92 from 1889) | 15 (+4 from 1889) | 0.01253 |
| 1889 | 581 (+234 from 1888) | 11 (+4 from 1888) | 0.00924 |
| 1888 | 815 (-63 from 1887) | 7 No change from 1887 | 0.00539 |
| 1887 | 752 (+93 from 1886) | 7 (+1 from 1886) | 0.00640 |
| 1886 | 845 (-145 from 1885) | 6 (-2 from 1885) | 0.00504 |
| 1885 | 700 (+1 from 1884) | 8 No change from 1884 | 0.00690 |
| 1884 | 701 (-104 from 1883) | 8 (-2 from 1883) | 0.00652 |
| 1883 | 597 (+240 from 1882) | 10 (+4 from 1882) | 0.00889 |
| 1882 | 837 (-197 from 1880) | 6 (-3 from 1880) | 0.00492 |
| 1881 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1880 | 640 First SSA data recorded | 9 First SSA data recorded | 0.00760 |
American States Popularity Rankings for Maxwell
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )California (CA)
 California (CA) | #1742021 | #1762022 | #1812023 |
New York (NY)
 New York (NY) | #1382021 | #1282022 | #1502023 |
Ohio (OH)
 Ohio (OH) | #1192021 | #1332022 | #1462023 |
Illinois (IL)
 Illinois (IL) | #1282021 | #1352022 | #1452023 |
Michigan (MI)
 Michigan (MI) | #1042021 | #1172022 | #1502023 |
Pennsylvania (PA)
 Pennsylvania (PA) | #1402021 | #1262022 | #1342023 |
Texas (TX)
 Texas (TX) | #2842021 | #3302022 | #3802023 |
Minnesota (MN)
 Minnesota (MN) | #942021 | #992022 | #1052023 |
Massachusetts (MA)
 Massachusetts (MA) | #542021 | #1182022 | #982023 |
Florida (FL)
 Florida (FL) | #2152021 | #2132022 | #2242023 |
Wisconsin (WI)
 Wisconsin (WI) | #1002021 | #912022 | #1012023 |
Washington (WA)
 Washington (WA) | #1162021 | #1312022 | #1372023 |
Indiana (IN)
 Indiana (IN) | #1402021 | #1662022 | #1942023 |
New Jersey (NJ)
 New Jersey (NJ) | #1642021 | #1852022 | #2092023 |
Missouri (MO)
 Missouri (MO) | #1672021 | #1342022 | #1992023 |
Virginia (VA)
 Virginia (VA) | #1472021 | #1422022 | #1682023 |
Georgia (GA)
 Georgia (GA) | #2642021 | #1922022 | #3102023 |
North Carolina (NC)
 North Carolina (NC) | #1822021 | #2192022 | #2292023 |
Colorado (CO)
 Colorado (CO) | #1362021 | #1722022 | #1392023 |
Utah (UT)
 Utah (UT) | #952021 | #1002022 | #1012023 |
Maryland (MD)
 Maryland (MD) | #952021 | #1462022 | #1642023 |
Arizona (AZ)
 Arizona (AZ) | #2252021 | #2402022 | #2612023 |
Oregon (OR)
 Oregon (OR) | #1252021 | #1782022 | #1312023 |
Connecticut (CT)
 Connecticut (CT) | #1592021 | #1322022 | #1392023 |
Iowa (IA)
 Iowa (IA) | #1392021 | #1422022 | #1752023 |
Tennessee (TN)
 Tennessee (TN) | #2282021 | #2692022 | #2112023 |
Kentucky (KY)
 Kentucky (KY) | #1392021 | #2102022 | #2162023 |
Kansas (KS)
 Kansas (KS) | #1772021 | #1912022 | #1432023 |
Alabama (AL)
 Alabama (AL) | #2592021 | #3672022 | #1832023 |
Nebraska (NE)
 Nebraska (NE) | #1322021 | #1972022 | #1702023 |
South Carolina (SC)
 South Carolina (SC) | #3482021 | #2342022 | #3092023 |
Oklahoma (OK)
 Oklahoma (OK) | #3232021 | #3092022 | #2432023 |
New Hampshire (NH)
 New Hampshire (NH) | #712021 | #902022 | #682023 |
Louisiana (LA)
 Louisiana (LA) | #2732021 | #3372022 | #2472023 |
Maine (ME)
 Maine (ME) | #652021 | #932022 | #942023 |
District of Columbia (DC)
 District of Columbia (DC) | #1032021 | #1042022 | #492023 |
Nevada (NV)
 Nevada (NV) | #2152021 | #2342022 | #3382023 |
Rhode Island (RI)
 Rhode Island (RI) | #1212021 | #1232022 | #1342023 |
Arkansas (AR)
 Arkansas (AR) | #3582021 | #2162022 | #4612023 |
Idaho (ID)
 Idaho (ID) | #2152021 | #2132022 | #1452023 |
West Virginia (WV)
 West Virginia (WV) | #1732019 | #2052020 | #2192022 |
South Dakota (SD)
 South Dakota (SD) | #2442021 | #2762022 | #2272023 |
Mississippi (MS)
 Mississippi (MS) | #5922021 | #5892022 | #4532023 |
Vermont (VT)
 Vermont (VT) | #1012020 | #1042021 | #1162023 |
North Dakota (ND)
 North Dakota (ND) | #1302019 | #2072020 | #1522021 |
New Mexico (NM)
 New Mexico (NM) | #2632019 | #2842021 | #2492023 |
Delaware (DE)
 Delaware (DE) | #902020 | #1552022 | #1472023 |
Alaska (AK)
 Alaska (AK) | #1752021 | #2082022 | #1942023 |
Montana (MT)
 Montana (MT) | #1512017 | #2212018 | #1932021 |
Hawaii (HI)
 Hawaii (HI) | #1062017 | #1932018 | #2292020 |
Wyoming (WY)
 Wyoming (WY) | #1292016 | #1142017 | #1202021 |
Popularity Rankings for Maxwell in other Countries and American Territories
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)
Popularity in Australia (NSW)
 Australia (NSW) | #992015 | #992018 | #972021 |
Popularity in Canada
 Canada | #1032021 | #1292022 | #1572023 |
Popularity in New Zealand
 New Zealand | #1352021 | #1342022 | #2002023 |
Popularity in England and Wales
 England and Wales | #1552019 | #1572020 | #1632021 |
Popularity in Scotland
 Scotland | #2442021 | #1752022 | #2272023 |
Popularity in Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland | #3632017 | #3922020 | #4142022 |
Popularity in Poland
 Poland | #3892016 | #5102017 | #5642018 |
Popularity in Puerto Rico
 Puerto Rico | #4211999 |
Popularity in Quebec, Canada
 Quebec, Canada | #5312020 | #7992021 | #9442022 |
Popularity in Ireland
 Ireland | #6372020 | #6312021 | #6572022 |
Popularity in Switzerland
 Switzerland | #9512013 | #9582014 | #7142018 |
Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources
Is Maxwell a Name for Boys or Girls?
Maxwell is generally a name for boys. Its strong, classic sound has made it a staple for male names, though in recent years, some have also chosen it for girls.