Maximilian is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name 'Maximus', which means 'greatest'. It was a popular name among European royalty, particularly in Germany and Austria, where it has been used for centuries. Maximilian is composed of two elements: 'maximus', meaning greatest, and '-ilian', a suffix derived from the Roman family name 'Aemilius'. The name gained prominence through figures like Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and his successor, Maximilian II. Today, Maximilian remains a distinguished and elegant choice, often shortened to Max or Mali.
The name Maximilian experienced fluctuating popularity from 1989 to 2018, with a total of 134 babies given this name during that period. The years with the highest number of newborns named Maximilian were 2005 and 2011, each seeing 12 and 11 births respectively. Notably, there are several gaps in the data, such as no recorded births for Maximilian between 1990-1991, 1993-1994, 2002-2003, and 2006-2007, which suggests that Maximilian may not have been a particularly popular name during these years.