Maxwell is of English origin and means "great stream". It is a unisex name, though it is more commonly used for males. The name gained popularity in the late Middle Ages through early modern period, but has seen resurgence since the mid-20th century. Some famous bearers of this name include Maxwell Smart, the fictional secret agent from the television series Get Smart, and Maxwell Caulfield, an Australian actor known for his roles in films like The Boys Next Door and Grease 2. In literature, it is the name of a character in Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House.
"Maxwel experienced peak popularity between 1993 and 2001, with a high of 21 births in 2001. However, its usage has since declined, with only 5 births recorded in 2019."