Maximilian or Sebastian?

Question

We are still debating and down to a few weeks. The middle name is Joseph.

Please help. Maximilian would be shortened to Max but Sebastian would remain Sebastian.

Please tell me why if you answer this question. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Sebastian - sounds interesting and you don't hear it that often anymore. Max has become very common in the last few years.  

Answer 2

I like Max to use on a daily basis more than I like Sebastian. It seems more approachable.  

Answer 3

i would say neither.maximilian sounds like a rich s****. boy and sebastian reminds me of the sarcastic crab on little mermaid

Answer 4

Sebastian. That's my son's name. He goes by Seb for short.

Answer 5

For sure Sebastian. He can go by Seb, Ian, or many others.

Answer 6

I like both names.

Max has quickly become a hot favourite (with Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez both using this name), and I love the old-fashioned charm of Maximilian. It's such a striking name. Sebastian is a handsome as well, and it's one of my favourites (though I love the nickname 'Bass' for this name).

The combination Sebastian Joseph sounds better to my ear than Maximilian Joseph. How good the name sounds together would also depend on your surname.

The more popular of the two names is Sebastian, which currently ranks at #71 in popularity amongst all male baby names in the U.S. On the other hand, Maximilian ranks at #315. Both names are rising in popularity, which you can see if you take a look at the below links:

http://www.behindthename.com/top/search....

http://www.behindthename.com/top/search....

However, what we also need to take into account is the popularity of the name Max, in addition to other names that shorten to Max. Maxwell ranks at #153 and Max ranks at #141. From this, I would assume that the nickname Max is just as popular as the name Sebastian.

You might try to choose the name you prefer due to meaning. Maximilian is derived from a Roman family name meaning 'greatest'. Sebastian is a Latin name meaning 'from Sebaste'; and Sebaste is a town that's name derives from a Greek word meaning 'venerable'. For more information about the origins of both names, check out these links:

http://www.behindthename.com/name/sebast...

http://www.behindthename.com/name/maximi...

Other things that may draw you to a name are drawbacks and namesakes. Babynamer.com lists these on their website. For the name Maximilian, the namesakes are:

"

Leadership

    * Maximilian (born 1832, died 1867)

      Austrian archduke; brother of Austrian emperor Francis Joseph. Full name: Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph.

          o Named emperor of Mexico in 1864 by French-backed Mexican exiles; forced to surrender to Mexican nationalists in 1867 (see list of Miscellaneous Political Leaders)

Stage and Screen

    * Maximilian

          o The son of Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack (see list of see Celebrity Babies)

    * Maximilian Schell (born 1930)

      Austrian actor, writer, director and producer.

          o 1961 Academy Award winner for his performance in Judgment at Nuremberg (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Actor)"

Drawbacks (or 'teasing nicknames') have not been listed for this name. In this case, you might want to try and think of all the names that little Maximilian could possibly be teased with.

For the name Sebastian the namesakes are:

"

Miscellaneous

    * Sebastian

      o Hurricane or tropical storm of 1995 (see list of Hurricane and Tropical Storm Names)

Sports

    * Sebastian Coe

      British athlete.

          o 1980, 1984 Olympic track and field gold medal winner for 1500m (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Miscellaneous Track Events)

Stage and Screen

    * Sebastian Sholes

      Fictional character.

          o Played by Charles McGraw (see list of Character from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds)

The Literary World

    * Sebastian de Grazia

          o 1990 Pulitzer Prize winner for Biography/Autobiography, for Machiavelli in h**l (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography)

    * Sebastian

          o Viola''s twin brother in Twelfth Night (see list of Shakespearean Characters)"

And the drawbacks listed for this name include:

"   * Sebo

    * Sea Bass

    * Bastion"

You honestly cannot go wrong with either name. They are both handsome names with strong historical associations. I think you should have a look at how good each name sounds with your surname and chosen middle name, the drawbacks to each name and the meanings/namesakes for each name. These might sway you in favour of one particular name.

Answer 7

Maximilian's a good name!

maximillian is the name of the catholic priest saint in world war two who sacrificed his life for a jew...

and sebastian is the name of a catholic roman soldier who was martyred in the 3rd century...he was tied up to a tree and shot with arrows...

MAXIMILLAN is a name associated with the media

and SEBASTIAN is a name associated with soldiers and warfare...

MAXIMILLIAN JOSEPH SOUNDS GOOD TO ME...HIS nickname's gonna be MJ...or SJ...

Answer 8

Sebastian, it just sounds better!  Good luck!

Answer 9

sebastian, definitely

please don't name your kid Maximilian. it's old fashioned, if you like the name Max why don't you jsut name him simply max? i have an older brother named just Max. and i think it's adorable

Answer 10

Sebastian, strong masculine name. Always liked it.

Answer 11

Looks like I'm alone here but I like Maximilian because it's formal and sounds like a name belonging to someone in a respected position. Also, with Max as a nickname option, he can change the feel of his name. Max sounds more child/teenage "friendly" if that makes any sense...?

Answer 12

yuck. Both are bad. I would use JUST max not Maximilian. Maxi pad will come up alot in school just to let you know. Sebastian is horrible.

sorry just being honest

Answer 13

Sebastian

Answer 14

I like the nickname max but I am not to fond of Maximilian.  My dads best friend is named Mathias and goes by Max.  I always loved his name because it is unique yet masculine.  I am sorry but Sebastion reminds me of the crab from the little mermaid.  Good luck Hun!

Answer 15

Sebastian. It's one of my favorite boy's names. My hubby just didn't like it. :(

Answer 16

This was tough for me, I just stared at the two names; I like them both.

I'll go with Sebastian - fewer of them out in the world. There seem to be a lot of boys called Max in the last generation.

Answer 17

Sebastian.

Maximilian is sinister... sounds like someone Batman would get in a fight with... no offence...

Good luck with the birth!!!! :)

Answer 18

I think you should name him Sebastian, Max is quite often used in the last years, Sebastian is more unique and interesting. Congratulations! I wish you the best of luck while raising your wonderful son!

Answer 19

I think Sebastian is a wonderful name even though it doesn't offer a lot of nicknaming possibilities.  I suggest having a supply of nicknames on hand because if he doesn't have one the kids will invent one for him.  I knew a Sebastian who was known as Seb. Yuck. You'll have to be a little more creative than the parents who just use one syllable of the given name.  Try Sea Bass or Stash or Bash or Shboom or Boom Boom or Butch.

That's just defensive nicknaming.  In fact if he can manage to keep it intact Sebastian is a name that will look good on job aps, book jackets and all manner of awards.

Answer 20

not sebastion, my b-i-l is named Sebastion and he was teased his whole life about it.