Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Max and Maximilian

41 replies

caitlinrose · 03/10/2022 17:01

We haven't really gotten anywhere with our boys list yet as I dislike most of my husband's suggestions and I only have a very short list myself.

A name I've always really liked is Max. I think it's handsome and classic. My husband likes it as well.

What do you think of Max? Would you say it's common where you are? Is it maybe already a bit dated? Most men named Max I've met are now 20-something. But my husband has a thing for names from roughly his own generation (80s/90s) so he doesn't mind. To me it just feels more like a "my own generation" sort of name like Rachel or Sarah (even though not nearly as common).

Another name I was thinking about is Maximilian, Max for short. I think it would give him more options but my husband doesn't like it as much (he doesn't mind, though, as long as he can call him Max) and maybe feels a bit more grown up? On the other hand I'm not sure if I'd ever call him by his full name and Max doesn't feel as incomplete to me as other short forms.

Thoughts on Max and Maximilian? (all other forms are out of the question, we don't care for Maxime, Maxwell etc.).

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
toastofthetown · 03/10/2022 17:23

Max is a total snooze of a name. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s so dull to me. I’m not quite sure it’s dated yet, as it’s still in the top hundred, but it’s definitely feeling tired. It looks like it’s already peaked in England and Wales and is on the way back down the charts now. I feel pretty much the same on Maximilian. Max feels a pretty inevitable nickname, so no less boring IMO. I think Max stands on its own without a nickname.

KirstenBlest · 03/10/2022 18:35

I like both, but I don't think that Maximilian offers many more options if you don't like Maxim, and aren't planning on using Maximilian

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 03/10/2022 18:47

The lovely Welsh boy's name Macsen gives you the option of Macs for short?

SpuytenDuyvil · 03/10/2022 19:13

How about Maxfield? Like Maxfield Parrish?

tigger1001 · 03/10/2022 19:19

Well, I have a Max, so I'm a little biased😂

We didn't want a longer version, so that's his name. It's not very common here - only know a couple of other Max's.

It was one of two names we agreed on for a boy.

Oblomov22 · 03/10/2022 19:20

I still like Max. It's number 24, was 20. Noah had now replaced Oliver. Teddy is rising, Roman, Arlo and Albie also rising.

littlemisslozza · 03/10/2022 19:23

I like Max. Not a fan of Maximilian though. There are still plenty of young Max's around, i know teenagers and primary aged boys. Not dated in my opinion.

Pandabeary · 03/10/2022 19:36

I love it! I know a little Max (Maximus). A fantastic strong name that never ages.

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 03/10/2022 19:43

Maximus.

Luredbyapomegranate · 03/10/2022 19:59

Maximilian (or Maximus) nn Max is great. Nicer than just Max.

It is still popular and certainly not dated.

S25 · 03/10/2022 19:59

Maximus (nn Max)

ThisShitsBananas · 03/10/2022 20:01

I have a baby Max. He’s just Max. Although I wish I had called him Maximilian because I love it but I thought it was a bit much as his middle name is Alexander.

resm · 03/10/2022 20:57

I love Max and agree with you that it doesn’t need a longer name on the birth certificate (even though I prefer the likes of Charlie or Alfie to have one).

It’s not dated at all to me. I’ve heard of a few children being called this in recent years, but it’s not overly popular either. Great choice!

Monkerina · 03/10/2022 21:10

I have a Max (just Max, longer middle name) who is 3. I think it's a classic, strong, no-nonsense name 😊

In the school he and his brother attend there's one Max in nearly every year so it's clearly a fairly popular option in these parts!

Lilacsunflowers · 03/10/2022 21:19

Max is boring and overused. I think it will sound dated soon...

ChagSameachDoreen · 04/10/2022 07:10

There are a million Maxes. It's the precursor to today's Teddy. Overused.

Original poster
caitlinrose · 04/10/2022 14:14

Monkerina · 03/10/2022 21:10

I have a Max (just Max, longer middle name) who is 3. I think it's a classic, strong, no-nonsense name 😊

In the school he and his brother attend there's one Max in nearly every year so it's clearly a fairly popular option in these parts!

I think as long as there wouldn't be several per class it wouldn't bother me. One per year still seems fine.

OP posts:
User6761 · 04/10/2022 15:23

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.

mathanxiety · 06/10/2022 16:19

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.

Mummawantsanother · 16/10/2022 00:14

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 .

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 16/10/2022 21:34

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.

PrioritiseCalm · 16/10/2022 21:36

Love.

mnahmnah · 16/10/2022 21:43

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

ClocksGoingBackwards · 16/10/2022 21:47

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

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 16/10/2022 21:56

mnahmnah · 16/10/2022 21:43

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

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

Swipe left for the next trending thread