NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Maksim

Of Russian origin meaning "the greatest".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Maksim is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Maksim popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1675, with 15 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 53 births.

This profile covers 540 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 28% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 551 living people in the UK are called Maksim. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Maksim ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 15 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2013, when 53 boys were registered as Maksim.
  • Maksim ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #387 in 2010.
  • About 551 living people in the UK are estimated to have Maksim as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1675

2024

Births in 2024

15

Latest year

Peak year

2013

53 births

Estimated living

551

2026

Meaning

What does Maksim mean?

The name Maksim is a masculine given name derived from the Latin name Maximus, meaning "greatest" or "largest." It has its origins in ancient Rome and was a common name among Roman nobility and military leaders. The name was often given to male children with the hope that they would grow up to be successful and achieve greatness.

In the early days of Christianity, the name Maksim gained popularity as it was borne by several early Christian saints and martyrs. One of the most notable was Saint Maximus the Confessor, a 7th-century monk and theologian who was known for his defense of the doctrine of Christ's two natures.

The name Maksim spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages and was particularly popular in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia, Ukraine, and other Slavic countries. In these regions, the name took on various spellings and forms, such as Maksym, Maksym, and Maksymilian.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maksim can be found in the Russian Primary Chronicle, a historical text dating back to the 12th century. It mentions a prince named Maksim who ruled over the city of Smolensk in the late 11th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Maksim. One of the most famous was Maksim Gorky (1868-1936), a Russian writer and political activist who played a significant role in the development of Russian literature and the Bolshevik Revolution.

Another notable figure was Maksim Bahdanovič (1891-1917), a Belarusian poet and literary critic who is considered one of the founders of modern Belarusian literature. His works played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the Belarusian language and culture.

In the world of music, Maksim Mrvica (1975-present) is a Croatian classical crossover tenor and recording artist known for his powerful and emotive performances. He has released several successful albums and has performed in prestigious venues around the world.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy (1980-present) is a Ukrainian-American professional dancer and choreographer who has gained fame as a performer and instructor on the popular television show "Dancing with the Stars." He has won the show multiple times and is known for his innovative choreography and passionate performances.

Maksim Kontsevich (1963-present) is a renowned Russian mathematician who has made significant contributions to the fields of algebraic geometry, mathematical physics, and string theory. He was awarded the Fields Medal, considered the highest honor in mathematics, in 1998.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Maksim over time

The chart below shows babies named Maksim registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Maksim, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 15 births in 2024, compared with 53 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Maksim
013274053200120122024

Decades

Maksim by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Maksim was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1561 88 5
2010s #863 366 10
2000s #1998 86 8

Geography

Where Maksim is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Maksim. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Maksim ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #387 in 2010.

Northern Ireland
3
Scotland
3

Across the UK

Maksim in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#669 in 2012

2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#387 in 2010

2 years of NISRA records, 8 total registered

Related

Names similar to Maksim

FAQ

Maksim: questions and answers

How popular is the name Maksim in the UK right now?

In 2024, Maksim was ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales, with 15 births registered.

When was Maksim most popular?

The peak year on record was 2013, with 53 babies registered as Maksim in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Maksim?

Of Russian origin meaning "the greatest".

How many people are called Maksim in the UK?

A total of 540 babies have been registered as Maksim across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland and 8 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Maksim most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Maksim ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #387 in 2010. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.