Is Max a proper name?

[Anonymous]

OP, what about Maxim, nn Max?

It is a proper "real" name, and while more common in Slavic countries, has a solid English tradition as well. (I just taught the novel Rebecca with my AP English class: Maxim de Winter is Rebecca's husband, and the lord of the manor Manderley).

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine, but if your DH doesn't, he doesn't.

[Anonymous]

I guess I'll be the odd one out and say I agree with your husband (not on the "heathens" part, but I assume he was joking). Nicknames as proper names strike me as off -- like you're not giving your child the possibility of being more serious or professional.

I think it's worse when it's a girl (the way our society is set up, Vicki's and Jenny's are already going to have to work hard to be taken seriously without the added bonus of looking like a 6 year old on a resume), and it definitely varies by name (naming a boy Max or John with no longform gets a different reaction out of me than Bobby or Jimmy). For reference, I'm a long proper name but go by the nickname (even now, in my thirties). But I use my full name in business settings and am glad I have that option. So I definitely see where your husband is coming from.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't use "Maxim." It's a somewhat risque mens' magazine that's popular.

[Anonymous]

How about Mac? I know one (don't know if it's short for anything or not)

but not as popular as Max. Also, Max is a little odd to me because it's also slang for maximum (imagining a beer mug: fill it to the max) and reminds me of condoms for some reason (you've got the "X" and the large connotation, and Maxim magazine...) And it's a dog name...and so popular...all that together makes me think it's not a good choice if you can sub something close for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure it's a proper name although you'll get many folks who say otherwise. I have a Max-- "just Max."

+1 if I have a boy he will be "Max"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what about Maxim, nn Max?

It is a proper "real" name, and while more common in Slavic countries, has a solid English tradition as well. (I just taught the novel Rebecca with my AP English class: Maxim de Winter is Rebecca's husband, and the lord of the manor Manderley).

And a wife murderer.

Yes, OP, name your kid after Maxim de Winter.

[Anonymous]

My father, born in 1945, and his grandfather, born sometime in the late 1800s, were both named Max as their full name. So it has been a real name for at least 125 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Max is a nickname. You can opt to give a child that as his given name, but historically, it is a nickname, not a given name.

As has been pointed out, the trend of naming kids just nicknames has become common. I'm of the school that short nicknames are good for common use, but that they shouldn't be used as given names. But then, I only really care about my family. What other families do is really up to them. I know a ton of kids that were given nicknames as their full given name and it doesn't really make a difference to me.

So in a way, both of you are right. Your husband is right that traditionally Max is a nickname and not a given name. You are right that many people do name their children using nicknames as the given name. What really matters is that you come to a compromise agreement of what you both want to do.

+1. Perfectly said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure it's a fine name but also a very popular one right now. Be prepared for lots of Maxs in his class. So make sure you like Max First initial of your last name, because that's how he'll be known all through school

This is certainly true for my Max. We didn't know when we picked the name that it was gaining popularity.

OP, your husband needs to get a life. This is seriously not worth arguing over. If you both like the name, use it. My dad is Mike. Not Michael, Mike. On his birth certificate. To my knowledge this reality has had zero impact on his life one way or another. It's a total non-issue.

[Anonymous]

Please just don't use Maximus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My father, born in 1945, and his grandfather, born sometime in the late 1800s, were both named Max as their full name. So it has been a real name for at least 125 years.

This! People keep pulling out of their butts about the history of names and so much Is made-up.

Do what you want op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your husband is silly. He's probably met a John b/f who wasn't a Jonathan? A Beth that wasn't Elizabeth? A Meg that wasn't Margaret. Or a Jack?

Max is fine on it's own.

I thought John and Jonathan, while having similar meanings, came from different root languages. Therefore John isn't a short or nickname for Jonathan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your husband is silly. He's probably met a John b/f who wasn't a Jonathan? A Beth that wasn't Elizabeth? A Meg that wasn't Margaret. Or a Jack?

Max is fine on it's own.

I thought John and Jonathan, while having similar meanings, came from different root languages. Therefore John isn't a short or nickname for Jonathan.

Correct. Jon in the nickname for Jonathan. John is a separate given name. The nickname for John is Jack.

[Anonymous]

It is a nickname. You can used it as a name, but it is a nickname. Here are some other names that could have Max as a nickname:

Maxton
Massimo
Maddox

Or a surname name like Maxford or Maxfield (like the artist Maxfield Parrish).