What does Maurice mean?
From Latin 'Mauritius', a derivative of 'Maurus' meaning 'Moor' or 'dark-skinned, swarthy'. Borne by Saint Maurice, a 3rd-century martyr.
What does Maximilian mean?
From the Latin Maximilianus, from maximus, “greatest.”
Maurice vs Maximilian
Which is more popular?
Maximilian is more popular than Maurice today: about 497 US babies were given the name Maximilian in 2025, compared with 0 named Maurice.
| Maurice | Maximilian | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | dark-skinned, Moorish | Greatest |
| Origin | latin | Latin |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MOR-iss | mak-suh-MIL-ee-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 5 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1907 |
| Peak year | 1921 (1,743) | 2016 (717) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 497 |
| Trend | Vintage | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Maurice
Maximilian
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Maurice | Maximilian |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,476 | 3,153 |
| 2010s | 4,640 | 6,508 |
| 2000s | 7,178 | 5,101 |
| 1990s | 10,087 | 2,761 |
| 1980s | 15,575 | 928 |
| 1970s | 15,233 | 260 |
| 1960s | 14,643 | 102 |
| 1950s | 12,584 | 12 |
| 1940s | 10,477 | 5 |
| 1930s | 12,638 | 12 |
| 1920s | 16,161 | 39 |
| 1910s | 11,429 | 54 |
| 1900s | 1,980 | 5 |
| 1890s | 1,270 | 0 |
| 1880s | 961 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Maurice or Maximilian more popular?
Maximilian is more popular than Maurice today: about 497 US babies were given the name Maximilian in 2025, compared with 0 named Maurice.
What is the difference between Maurice and Maximilian?
Maurice means dark-skinned, Moorish (latin origin), while Maximilian means Greatest (Latin origin).
Which name is older, Maurice or Maximilian?
In US records, Maurice first appears in 0 and Maximilian in 1907, so Maurice has the longer recorded history.