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The short answer
Maxwell is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the Scottish surname Maxwell meaning ‘Mack's stream’, itself from the name Mack, a short form of the Scandinavian name Magnus, combined with Old English wille meaning ‘well, stream’. As a given name it has increased in popularity starting from the 1980s, likely because it is viewed as a full form of Max." It ranked #189 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the Scottish surname Maxwell meaning ‘Mack's stream’, itself from the name Mack, a short form of the Scandinavian name Magnus, combined with Old English wille meaning ‘well, stream’. As a given name it has increased in popularity starting from the 1980s, likely because it is viewed as a full form of Max. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Maxwell ranked #189 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #189 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Maxwell in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maxwell mean?
Maxwell means "Mack's stream", according to Behind the Name.
Is Maxwell a popular name?
Maxwell ranked #189 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Maxwell a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Maxwell appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Maxwell — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
