Maximus

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “greatest”
Eng (MAKS-sim-mus)

The name comes directly from the Latin word for “greatness” and is found in several Roman designations, such as the Circus Maximus in Rome and was used as a title to denote importance in the case of the Pontifex Maximus (the highest priest in ancient Rome).

The name was most notably borne by Claudius Maximus, a 2nd-century stoic philosopher, and it was also borne by several saints.

In recent years, the name has seemed to experience a surge in popularity. In the English-speaking world, his popularity might be due to the popularity of other Max names and the release of the 2000 Ridley Scott film, Gladiator, in which the hero is named Maximus (as played by Russell Crowe).

In Europe, especially in Belgium and the Netherlands, both the male and feminine forms are very trendy. This may have been due to the marriage of Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands to the Argentine-born Maxima Zorreguieta (b.1971).

Currently, Maximus 233rd most popular male name in the United States, (2010). His rankings in other countries are as follows:

• # 9 (Belgium, Maxime, 2009)
• # 19 (France, Maxime, 2009)
• # 35 (Argentina,Máximo 2009)
• # 825 (the United States, Máximo 2010)

In French, Maxime is occasionally bestowed upon females, but is far more common among males. It is currently the 444th most popular female name in the Netherlands, (2010).

Other forms of the name include:

• Màxim (Catalan)
• Maksimká Максимкá (Chuvash)
• Maksim Максим (Croatian/Belarusian/Bulgarian/Macedonian/Serbian)
• Maxim Максим(Czech/Dutch/Hungarian/Kazakh/Romanian/Russian/Slovak/Ukrainian/Uzbek)
• Maximus (Dutch/English/German)
• Maxime (French)
• Maksime მაქსიმე (Georgian)
• Maximos Μάξιμος (Greek)
• Miksa (Hungarian)
• Massimo (Italian)
• Massimino (Italian)
• Maksims (Latvian)
• Méme (Occitanian)
• Maksym (Polish)
• Máximo (Portuguese/Spanish)
• Maximino (Portuguese)
• Macsen (Welsh)
• Maxen (Welsh)

Feminine forms include:

• Massima (Italian)
• Massimina (Italian)
• Maxima (Hungarian)
• Maksyma (Polish)
• Máxima (Spanish)