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.

there are 4 Maxs in my son's grade and at least 3 in the grade below

Our son Theo was given Theodore as his full name but many times I've wished we just named him Theo which is the name I really love. "Theodore" ends up being the name on all forms and even the school yearbook. Even he thinks it's weird that he has this other name that is sometimes used. But when he was born my husband and I just thought he should have the whole name for whatever reason...so in hindsight, I wish we'd just gone with "Theo." I have a nephew who is just "Jack" and it's fine.

Anonymous wrote:Max is just fine.
If he wants a more formal name Maximus is awesome.

While I understand it may be popular, it is not as popular as PP mentioned. DS has only met on Max in the past few years at school. The likelihood there will be 2 in your son's class is low. Maybe more than one in the school and maybe even more than 1 in the grade but not likely more than one in the class.

3 of the 22 boys preschool age at our school are named Max.

Max is just fine.
If he wants a more formal name Maximus is awesome.

While I understand it may be popular, it is not as popular as PP mentioned. DS has only met on Max in the past few years at school. The likelihood there will be 2 in your son's class is low. Maybe more than one in the school and maybe even more than 1 in the grade but not likely more than one in the class.

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

Me, too!

You could also use Max as a non-traditional nickname for Matthew or Martin if you really want a formal name

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

I think that Max is a fine name all on its own. We gave our son a "nickname" as his middle name and feel just fine about it. If you both like Max, call him Max.

BTW, how do you guys feel about Maxim? That might be a good middle ground between Max and Maximillian.

Love Max! Maximilian or Maxwell are kind of pretentious sounding to me.

Max is fine (but probably the most common name in our daycare, if you care).

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 think "just Max" is a great name. He or she will probably get asked their whole life what it's short for, but if they had a long name people would probably ask them if they shorten it. Such is the weird life game with names.

-signed a "just Kris"

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

Please settle a debate between me and my husband. My husband refuses to name our future son a "nickname" and insists that Max is not a proper name. We both like Max but do not like Maxwell or Maximilian. I think it is silly to name our child a name we do not like and should just go by the shorter version. He says we are not "heathens" and our child must have a real, proper name. We are very excited to have a boy, but we have very different tastes in boy names. We had like 20 names lined up if we were having a second girl, but good boy names are so limited!