boy's name
Maxence
mak-SAHNS
- Origin French
- Gender Boy
- Letters 7
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 68,173
France
#92
2025 births
Maxence is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "greatest," the French form of the Roman Maxentius. It ranks ninety-second in France and is essentially unknown elsewhere, appearing beyond 6,000 in England and Wales.
- Maxence is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in France in 2005, when 2,730 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in France.
- Today about 1 in 854 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
Maxence over time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 95 |
| 1910s | 70 |
| 1920s | 75 |
| 1930s | 80 |
| 1940s | 110 |
| 1950s | 90 |
| 1960s | 130 |
| 1970s | 810 |
| 1980s | 3,320 |
| 1990s | 12,155 |
| 2000s | 24,565 |
| 2010s | 19,095 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 5,590 |
What Maxence means
Maxence means greatest, from the Latin maximus. It is built on the same superlative as Maximus and Maxime, so it claims the top of a scale rather than describing a specific quality.
Where Maxence comes from
Maxence is the French form of Maxentius, from the Latin maximus, greatest. Its historical bearer is the emperor Maxentius, defeated by Constantine at the Milvian Bridge in 312 — the battle Constantine attributed to a vision of the cross, and therefore one of the hinge points of European history, though it is Maxentius who lost. A separate Saint Maxentius, a sixth-century abbot in Poitou, gave the name its currency in western France, where the town of Saint-Maixent carries it. It is distinct from Maxime, the more common French form of Maximus, and from Maximilian, which combines Maximus with Aemilianus.
Maxence in use
Maxence ranks ninety-second in France with about 690 births in 2025. Our records carry it from 2001, so despite its ancient roots its life as a common French name is recent. It is one of the least exported names at this level: beyond 6,300 in England and Wales and beyond 8,000 in the United States, where neither Maxentius nor Maxence has any currency.
How popular is Maxence?
In 2025, Maxence was given to 690 babies in France, ranking #92 that year. It is a rare choice.
Where Maxence is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Maxence
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Maxence also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Maxence over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
1 nickname for Maxence
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Maxence in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Dutch
- Maxime
- French
- Maxime
- German
- Maximilian
- Latin
- Maximus
Sibling names for Maxence
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Maxence — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Maxence
What does the name Maxence mean?
Maxence means "greatest," from the Latin maximus.
Who was the emperor Maxentius?
Constantine's rival, defeated at the Milvian Bridge in 312 — the battle Constantine credited to a vision of the cross.
Is Maxence the same as Maxime?
They share the root but are distinct French names, from Maxentius and Maximus respectively.
How do you pronounce Maxence?
mak-SAHNS, with a nasal final syllable.
How popular is the name Maxence?
In 2025, Maxence was given to 690 babies in France, ranking #92 that year. It is a rare choice.
Is Maxence a girl's or a boy's name?
Maxence is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
When was Maxence most popular?
Maxence peaked in 2005, when 2,730 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Maxence?
Maxence is usually shortened to Max.
Is Maxence a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Maxence currently ranks #92 in France. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.