Massimo is an Italian masculine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the word 'maximus', which means 'greatest' or 'largest'. The name Massimo is associated with the Roman Emperor Maxentius, whose full name was Fabius Maximus. In fact, 'Maximus' was often used as a title by members of the Roman aristocracy to denote their superior status.
The name Massimo has been popular in Italy for centuries and it continues to be so today. It reached its peak popularity in Italy during the 1960s and 1970s but remains a common choice for parents naming their sons. The name Massimo is often shortened to Max or Masi, which are also popular Italian names.
Some famous people with the name Massimo include:
* Massimo Boldi, an Italian actor and comedian
* Massimo Moratti, former chairman of the Italian football club Inter Milan
* Massimo Vignelli, an Italian-American graphic designer
In literature, there is a character named Massimo in "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. The novel was later adapted into a film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud.
Overall, the name Massimo has a strong and powerful meaning that reflects its Latin origins. It is a popular choice for parents who want to give their son a traditional Italian name with a significant history.
The name Massimo experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. Between 1963 and 1978, there were consistently around 10-20 births per year, with a peak of 21 births in 1973. However, starting from 1979, there was a notable decline, with fewer than 20 births annually until 1996.
After 1996, the popularity of Massimo started to rise sharply, reaching an all-time high of 288 births in 2023. Since 2000, the total number of births has exceeded 75 per year, except for a brief dip between 2011 and 2016. Over the entire period from 1963 to 2023, there were a total of 3504 births named Massimo.