Max vs Richard
Max and Richardcompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Max was ranked #29 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Max was ranked #41 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Max was ranked #44 and Richard #398 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Max was ranked #44 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Max was ranked #45 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Max was ranked #72 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Max was ranked #72 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Max and Richard over time
Max and Richard appear together in 4 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Max held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Richard in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Max 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.
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 2002, Max moved ahead of Richard in Northern Ireland · Boys — #92 and #92 the year before became #100 and #109.
- Longest-running competitions
Max and Richard were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 60 years, from 1946 to 2023, ending at #72 and #481.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #44 and #398.
List by list
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1946–2023
Max held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Richard in 35.
Highest recorded here: Max #60 in 2012, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 1999: Max moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #211 and #191; by 1999 that had become #182 and #201.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Max #72, Richard #481.
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1973–2025
Max held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Richard in 18.
Highest recorded here: Max #27 in 2022, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order changed in 2003: Max moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #123 and #82; by 2003 that had become #97 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Max #41, Richard #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Max held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Max #18 in 2012, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Max #44, Richard #398.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Max held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Richard in 3.
Highest recorded here: Max #22 in 2015, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order changed in 2002: Max moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #92 and #92; by 2002 that had become #100 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Max #44, Richard #311.
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 | Max | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form of Maximilian or Maxim, ultimately from Latin 'maximus' (greatest). | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæks/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #30 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Max is recorded with a Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Max has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Richard.
- Max's recorded meaning differs from Richard's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys