Maxine
Maxine Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
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Meaning of Maxine: Maxine is the English feminine form of Maximus, a Latin name meaning the greatest, from the superlative of magnus (great, large). The root produced a long chain of derivatives: Maximus, Maximilian, Maxwell, Max, and the feminine Maxine, all sharing the same core sense of greatness or magnitude.
Maxine peaked in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, when it ranked among the top 50 feminine names. The name was common in the Jazz Age and carried a confident, modern tone at the time, associated with the new woman archetypes of the 1920s who broke social conventions.
Use declined through the mid-20th century and by the 1980s the name had become associated primarily with older generations. However, from the 2010s onward, Maxine entered the vintage revival cycle alongside Mabel, Vera, and Harriet, names that parents seek for their combination of historical depth and underuse in recent decades.
What Does Maxine Mean? Origin & Etymology
Maxine ranked 520 in the United States in 2024 with 591 births, continuing a steady climb that began around 2015. In the UK and Australia, the revival has been even more pronounced, with Maxine entering the top 200 in several years of Australian records.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (born 1938), a prominent American political figure, is the most recognizable current bearer and has kept the name in public discourse for decades. The name also appears in the British sitcom Hollyoaks through a long-running character named Maxine Minniver.
Further reading: etymology records and US popularity records from SSA.
How Popular Is Maxine?
Numerology & Symbolism of Maxine
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Maxine – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Maxine
What does the name Maxine mean?
Maxine means the greatest, as the English feminine form of the Latin Maximus, a superlative of magnus (great). The name shares its root with Maximilian, Maxwell, and Max. It was popularized as a feminine form in the late 19th century and peaked in the United States in the 1920s-1930s.
Is Maxine making a comeback?
Yes, Maxine is experiencing a notable vintage revival. It ranked 520 for US girls in 2024 with 591 births, continuing a steady climb from around 2015. The revival parallels the trajectories of Mabel, Vera, and Harriet. In Australia and the UK, the revival has been more pronounced, with Maxine entering national top 200 lists.
Who is the most famous person named Maxine?
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (born 1938), the long-serving US Representative for California, is the most recognizable current bearer. She has maintained a high public profile since the 1990s, keeping the name in American political discourse. British TV character Maxine Minniver of Hollyoaks provides another long-running cultural presence.
When was Maxine most popular?
Maxine peaked in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, ranking among the top 50 feminine names during the Jazz Age. Its confident, modern tone matched the new woman archetype of the 1920s. Use declined through the mid-20th century before the current vintage revival began around 2015.
What names are similar to Maxine?
Names in the same vintage revival cluster include Mabel, Vera, Harriet, Agnes, and Goldie, all classic names experiencing renewed interest. The masculine forms Max and Maxwell share the same Latin root. For a similar strong one-syllable nickname feel, parents choosing Maxine often also consider Roxanne, Nadine, or Celine.