Maxwell: Meaning, origin and popularity

Pronounced MAK-swel · 2 syllables

Maxwell means “well”, from English.

From an earlier form Mackeswell, meaning "Mack's well or spring", from Old English welle (“well”).

How popular is Maxwell?

Maxwell was the #189 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,939 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 38% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 2010.

Babies named Maxwell in the US by five-year period, relative to its peak (around 2010).

Half of US adults named Maxwell are older than 27; most are between 18 and 45. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)

Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.

Maxwell means “well”. It comes from English.

Maxwell is pronounced MAK-swel.

Maxwell was the #189 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,939 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 38% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 2010.

Half of US adults named Maxwell are older than 27. Most are between 18 and 45.