Max and Maximilian

Old thread I know but we have a Maximilian and I love it - nn Maxy day to day.

I am a teacher so pretty hard to please but only have one other boy called Max (Maximus) and he’s lovely so don’t mind the connection.

I have a Max too and never wanted it to be a longer name. I like unpretentious simple names. He never had another Max in his class and I think there was only one other in his year group. He's a lovely young man now but a bit lazy ...but I guess that's no baring on the name 😁

DD also has a short name and never had another child of the same name in class and I think there wasn't even another one like it in school.

Meh. I find the name Max quite boring and overused. You can do better!

I’m a Maximilian but don’t wield it very often as 5 syllables is quite a mouthful

Yes, you absolutely would! The British Baby Names blog used to do a ‘combined spellings’ top 100 which was always very interesting. Some of your examples might overlap - Freddie could be Freddie, or Frederick, or Alfred, but you wouldn’t put the Alfreds in there because so many of them might go by Alfie. It’s a very inexact science but Max is a bit simpler as there is overwhelmingly one diminutive from all of the longer names and it’s very very likely that many of those boys will be known as Max by the end of primary school even if the full name is still used at home.

Anyway, it’s just for interest. You asked if it was common and I think looking at the combined numbers, imperfect as it is, can be helpful to get a pretty accurate feel for overall popularity. FWIW I think it’s a great name and Maximilian was in our final two for DS before we went for something Biblical.

I like Max. We had a cat called Max and he was ace

I find Max overused and starting to sound a little dated.

I like Christopher!

This. I love Macsen. If Max wasn't such a popular nickname I'd have used it for my son.

I have a Max who is early 20s now. There was only ever him with the name in his year group. I don't consider it to be boring or common, but obviously it isn't so unusual that it stands out as rare. I went with Christopher as a middle name - I do think that if you go for a short first name, you need a longer middle one for balance.

Maximilian nn Max is a classic name, I don't think it's dated. I know several Max's, all of different ages and it suits them all. It's not massively out there but it's a good, solid name.

Absolutely love the name Max and it definitely doesn't need a longer version (I dislike all of them)

I have a Max....never knew it was in the top 100 names. In the 12 years he has been alive we have never come across one in his school or football/hockey clubs. I love it!

We have a Max. Fabulous name

Short n sweet

Mr entertainment

Always makes me think of …..

I forgot about Maxwell! That would take it up to #14, ahead of Charlie and just behind Jack.

I like Max, it’s a really nice name on its own. But Maxwell sounds drippy and Maximus and Maximilian sound pretentious.

I know a couple of younger Max. Love the name. Maxwell is the longer version of one of them.

Love.

Max is one of those names where the data is misleading in terms of popularity. By far the most popular choice is ‘Max’ as a name in its own right, at #34, but if you combine it with the longer names very likely to go by Max (Maxim, Maxime, Maximus, Maximilien, Maximilian) it moves up to #15, above Alfie and behind Theo. That certainly rings more true with my perception of its popularity.

Hi !

My son is Maximilian. I was slightly surprised we received cards To Max. His name is Maximilian! I’d never send a card to welcome the birth of Alex when the baby’s parents had told us he was named Alexander . I felt that meant maybe my family felt I was slightly pretentious in the use of Maximilian/ they didn’t like it !

My brother actually told me he thought the name was ridiculous and that hurt . But I am me and I liked it. I didn’t raise eyebrows when my brother called him son a name I wouldn’t choose !!

Day to day baby is Max but I do use Maximilian also . I also call him Millions / Max/ Mils.

Baby is 1. When Iook at him and I’m so crazy about him, I wonder - is Max enough ( because 9/10 he will be called Max by friends and family .

Occasionally I have thought I should have called him Milo or Emilio as they wouldn’t have been shortened and are abit more Unusual but then I wonder if I would have actually really regretted not using Maximilian !

To some, Max isn’t super exciting ! But I love it . It’s classic and cool . I love Max and I love Maximilian. It gives him both options.
I even really like Maxwell!

I had called the baby Maximilian from being 6 weeks pregnant and when I found out the baby was a boy at 20 weeks I knew he was Maximilian. I hope Max is enough for him ! He is such a beautiful boy. I think I will start calling him Maximilian more .I can’t really blame people calming him Max if I do ! I like Max - works for a child / man .

it is easy to say , and not to try hard but imo it is cool but classic . Also option of Maximilian is there for my son to use if he wants when older .

I like Max a lot. I don't think you need a longer version. It's a name you'll always encounter, no spelling difficulties, and it's always been in the top 100 without being everywhere like Oliver or Jack. Travels well too.

I know a couple of toddlers called Max so to me it's a 'current' name rather than a dated one. I've no idea if they have a longer version on their bc. The one adult Max I know is French, full name Maxime. Quite like Maxime. Don't like Maximilian at all - way too long for my tastes. What about Magnus? - a name that has grown on me recently.