Maxine

Meaning of Maxine

Maxine derives from the Latin superlative maximus, “greatest,” appearing in English as the feminine diminutive coined during the late-Victorian affection for classical revivals; by the 1920s it moved swiftly into mainstream American use, cresting in the mid-century when it ranked within the national Top-100 and furnishing a concise, self-possessed alternative to the more elaborate Maxima or Maximiliana. Pronounced mak-SEEN, the name carries connotations of capability and modernity, traits reinforced by figures such as jazz vocalist Maxine Sullivan, U.S. congresswoman Maxine Waters, and the fictional, quick-witted Maxine Shaw of 1990s television. Although its statistical prominence receded after the 1960s, a gentle resurgence since the 2010s—reflected in its steady climb from rank 850 in 2007 to the mid-400s by 2024—suggests renewed parental interest in succinct, vintage appellations with implicit strength. In contemporary Anglo-American culture, Maxine thus occupies a nexus where classical etymology, twentieth-century sociopolitical energy, and present-day minimalist taste converge, offering parents a historically grounded yet subtly forward-looking choice for a daughter.