Maxwell
Maxwell: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /หmรฆkswษl/
Meaning and origin of Maxwell
Root meaning: โwellโ
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
From an earlier form Mackeswell, meaning "Mack's well or spring", from Old English welle (โwellโ).
How popular is Maxwell?
Since 1880, 735 girls and 108,732 boys in the U.S. have been named Maxwell (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2650 in 2017. Its highest rank for boys was #106 in 1999. In 2025 it ranked #189 for boys, with 1,939 babies given the name.
Names similar to Maxwell
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Maxwell
Sister and brother names that share Maxwell's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Maxwell FAQ
What does the name Maxwell mean?
Maxwell traces back to a root meaning "well". A male given name transferred from the surname. From an earlier form Mackeswell, meaning "Mack's well or spring", from Old English welle (โwellโ).
What is the origin of the name Maxwell?
Maxwell is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Maxwell?
Since 1880, 735 girls and 108,732 boys in the U.S. have been named Maxwell (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2650 in 2017. Its highest rank for boys was #106 in 1999. In 2025 it ranked #189 for boys, with 1,939 babies given the name.
Is Maxwell a boy or girl name?
Maxwell is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 735 girls and 108,732 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880โ2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.