Max

The name traces to the Latin maximus, originally a superlative title before expanding through longer forms like Maximilian. In the late nineteenth century, American registries began logging it as a standalone first name rather than domestic shorthand. By the time typewriter ribbons were standard office equipment, the single syllable had established independent residency on birth certificates.

A Max tends to be pictured in a zip-up fleece, carrying either a skateboard or a travel mug. The name entered the twenty-first century with sudden momentum, hitting its high-water mark in 2009 when parents favored two consonants separated by a single vowel. With an estimated average age of twenty-seven today, the typical bearer has largely aged into office badge lanyards. He also shares a first name with an impressive number of golden retrievers.