What does Felix mean?
The Latin word felix, “happy” or “lucky.”
What does Maximilian mean?
From the Latin Maximilianus, from maximus, “greatest.”
Felix vs Maximilian
Which is more popular?
Felix is more popular than Maximilian today: about 2,064 US babies were given the name Felix in 2025, compared with 497 named Maximilian.
| Felix | Maximilian | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Happy, fortunate | Greatest |
| Origin | Latin | Latin |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | FEE-liks | mak-suh-MIL-ee-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 5 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1907 |
| Peak year | 2024 (2,090) | 2016 (717) |
| In 2025 | 2,064 | 497 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Felix
Maximilian
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Felix | Maximilian |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11,654 | 3,153 |
| 2010s | 13,335 | 6,508 |
| 2000s | 7,580 | 5,101 |
| 1990s | 6,294 | 2,761 |
| 1980s | 5,306 | 928 |
| 1970s | 5,515 | 260 |
| 1960s | 5,749 | 102 |
| 1950s | 5,759 | 12 |
| 1940s | 4,315 | 5 |
| 1930s | 4,199 | 12 |
| 1920s | 6,000 | 39 |
| 1910s | 4,928 | 54 |
| 1900s | 1,108 | 5 |
| 1890s | 903 | 0 |
| 1880s | 863 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Felix or Maximilian more popular?
Felix is more popular than Maximilian today: about 2,064 US babies were given the name Felix in 2025, compared with 497 named Maximilian.
What is the difference between Felix and Maximilian?
Felix means Happy, fortunate (Latin origin), while Maximilian means Greatest (Latin origin).
Which name is older, Felix or Maximilian?
In US records, Felix first appears in 1880 and Maximilian in 1907, so Felix has the longer recorded history.