Maxwell

At a Glance

Meaning

Mack's well or spring

Origin

Scottish (place name)

Gender

Boy

Pronunciation

MAKS-welListen

Maxwell (pronounced MAKS-wel) is a Scottish place name at its root, meaning "Mack's well or spring" — not the "great stream" or "great well" story some baby-name sites attach to it by linking Max to the Latin maximus. That's just a coincidental resemblance, not the actual origin. Maxwell has a timeless, classic, vintage feel as a boy's name with old-fashioned roots.

Meaning & Origin of Maxwell

Meaning: Mack's well or spring.

Origin: Scottish (place name).

A common claim: Maxwell is often glossed on baby-name sites as 'great stream' or 'great well,' linking it to Max/Latin maximus ('greatest'). Actually: Maxwell doesn't come from 'great' — it's from the Scottish place name meaning 'Mack's well or spring' (a personal name Mack + well), unrelated to Latin maximus despite the coincidental resemblance to 'Max.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Maxwell

Popularity of Maxwell

Maxwell peaked at #106 in 1999, when 3,338 boys were given the name, and has since settled to #182 in 2024 with 2,021 boys, based on Social Security data covering 1880 through 2024.

Names Like Maxwell

These names share Maxwell’s style, era or origin.

• Angus
• Douglas
• Kenneth
• Alec
• Allan
• Bruce

FAQ

What does the name Maxwell mean?

Mack’s well or spring. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Maxwell?

Maxwell is pronounced MAKS-wel (IPA: /ˈmækswɛl/).

Is Maxwell a popular name right now?

Maxwell peaked at #106 in 1999 and is ranked #182 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Maxwell Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Maxwell, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.