Edward vs Max
Edward and Maxcompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Edward was ranked #73 and Max #29 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #181 and Max #29 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #75 and Max #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #177 and Max #30 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #31 and Max #44 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #125 and Max #41 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #189 and Max #72 among boys in Norway.
Edward and Max over time
Edward and Max appear together in 6 published lists, across 210 years of shared records. Max held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Edward in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Max reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Edward in 2. 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.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Max moved ahead of Edward in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #72 and #86 the year before became #85 and #72.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Edward and Max changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1953 and 2025, ending at #189 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Edward and Max averaged 10.0 places apart, ending at #31 and #44.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Max rose about as far as Edward fell — from #104 and #210 in 1997 to #177 and #30 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Max were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 60 years, from 1953 to 2025, ending at #189 and #72.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Edward #42 in 2015, Max #13 in 2014.
List by list
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1953–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Max in 41.
Highest recorded here: Edward #168 in 2012, Max #60 in 2012.
The order changed in 1996: Max moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #276 and #307; by 1996 that had become #359 and #305.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #189, Max #72.
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1973–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Max in 22.
Highest recorded here: Edward #29 in 1973, Max #27 in 2022.
The order changed in 2004: Max moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #86 and #97; by 2004 that had become #95 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #125, Max #41.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Max in 15.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Max #18 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #31, Max #44.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1992–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Max in 25.
Highest recorded here: Edward #42 in 2015, Max #13 in 2014.
The order changed in 1997: Max moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #72 and #86; by 1997 that had become #85 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #75, Max #30.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Max in 25.
Highest recorded here: Edward #104 in 1997, Max #22 in 2015.
The order changed in 2000: Max moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #152 and #168; by 2000 that had become #129 and #107.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #177, Max #30.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1992–2023
Edward held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Max in 21.
Highest recorded here: Edward #56 in 2021, Max #10 in 2016.
The order changed in 1995: Max moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #82 and #91; by 1995 that had become #99 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Edward #73, Max #29.
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 | Edward | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Maximilian or Maxim, ultimately from Latin 'maximus' (greatest). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæks/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #30 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Max has a recorded origin (Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim); Edward does not have one recorded yet.
- Edward has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Max.
- A meaning is recorded for Max; Edward doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Max
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #359 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2023
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 2016 (recorded 1992–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys