Adrian vs Maxwell
Adrian and Maxwellcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1959, Adrian was ranked #94 and Maxwell #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Maxwell #169 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Maxwell #184 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Adrian was ranked #304 and Maxwell #392 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #348 and Maxwell #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Adrian and Maxwell over time
Adrian and Maxwell appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Maxwell in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Adrian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Maxwell in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maxwell in 29.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Maxwell #114 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Maxwell #184.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1975–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Maxwell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Maxwell #266 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #348, Maxwell #829.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2001–2020
Adrian held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Maxwell in 2.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #165 in 2010, Maxwell #219 in 2013.
The order changed in 2016: Adrian moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #398 and #264; by 2016 that had become #232 and #358.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Adrian #304, Maxwell #392.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Adrian | Maxwell |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Latin name Hadrianus. Borne by several saints and six popes, including the only English pope, Adrian IV. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.dɹi.ən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Maxwell does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian and Maxwell both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Maxwell doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Adrian
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1958–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1958–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #70 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Maxwell
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #71 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2021
Highest recorded position: #71 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2021).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys