Namewise

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.

  • 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.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Max was ranked #48 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.

  • 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 155 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.

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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Max held the stronger position in 30 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, 2025: Max #48, Richard #431.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Max

Pairs where Max shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Richard

Pairs where Richard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Max, Richard
FieldMaxRichard
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA 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.
OriginLatin, via Maximilian/MaximGermanic
Pronunciation/ˈmæks//ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #30 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1992–2023

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 2016 (recorded 1992–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #48 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Richard

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys