Maverick Name Meaning

With his rocketing popularity and endless energy, it’s no surprise that parents can’t stop loving on Maverick. A word name pick with adventure in his veins, Maverick has taken preschool rosters by storm in recent years.

Meaning “independent,” Maverick is distinct in sound and bursting with spirit, the perfect name for a lively little one. He’s as feisty as his name suggests, always looking for some new feat to overcome whether it’s venturing through the woods or soaring on the swingset. Sports fans may also recognize the name from the Dallas Mavericks, a professional basketball team. Perhaps your little Maverick will someday grow to be an all-star athlete as well.

Maverick was the nickname of former presidential candidate and senator John McCain, an American war hero who refused early release while held as a POW per military code. In this selfless act, he would not leave before those who were captured before him. Many love this association and see McCain’s legacy as an incredible tie to the name.

His age is easy to peg with his recent popularity, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Maverick won’t age well. Word names are growing in popularity and he’ll easily fit in with Mason, Hunter, and Angel. He has a few nicknames to choose from as well like Rick and Mavi.

Infographic of Maverick name meaning, which is Meaning independent one, Maverick is an American name.
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Maverick Name Popularity

How popular is the name Maverick? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 — 0 0%
1949 — 0 0%
1950 — 0 0%
1951 — 0 0%
1952 — 0 0%
1953 — 0 0%
1954 — 0 0%
1955 — 0 0%
1956 — 0 0%
1957 1,610 5 0.0003%
1958 859 38 0.002%
1959 1,181 14 0.0007%
1960 1,169 13 0.0007%
1961 1,290 10 0.0005%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 — 0 0%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 — 0 0%
1966 — 0 0%
1967 — 0 0%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 — 0 0%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 — 0 0%
1973 — 0 0%
1974 — 0 0%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 — 0 0%
1977 — 0 0%
1978 — 0 0%
1979 — 0 0%
1980 — 0 0%
1981 — 0 0%
1982 — 0 0%
1983 — 0 0%
1984 — 0 0%
1985 — 0 0%
1986 1,957 6 0.0004%
1987 1,487 16 0.001%
1988 1,851 10 0.0006%
1989 1,586 18 0.0011%
1990 1,451 25 0.0015%
1991 1,231 40 0.0025%
1992 1,556 22 0.0014%
1993 1,178 48 0.0031%
1994 1,002 73 0.0048%
1995 926 91 0.006%
1996 855 110 0.0073%
1997 800 133 0.009%
1998 827 130 0.0087%
1999 834 134 0.0089%
2000 906 122 0.008%
2001 795 162 0.0108%
2002 789 166 0.0111%
2003 757 186 0.0122%
2004 789 182 0.0119%
2005 659 278 0.0182%
2006 613 345 0.022%
2007 566 416 0.0264%
2008 512 493 0.0319%
2009 549 437 0.0292%
2010 517 461 0.032%
2011 430 595 0.0418%
2012 354 829 0.0582%
2013 269 1,277 0.0897%
2014 203 1,867 0.1281%
2015 184 2,255 0.155%
2016 139 2,951 0.2047%
2017 85 4,696 0.3365%
2018 73 5,006 0.3644%
2019 58 5,729 0.4232%
2020 50 5,950 0.4675%
2021 47 6,548 0.5357%
2022 40 6,827 0.5175%

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California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

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Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Maverick

If you like Maverick, you’ll love these other names like Maverick.

What names are diminutives of Maverick?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Maverick sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Maverick, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Avi

Father of a multitude (of nations)

Hebrew

Mick

Short form of Michael

English

Rick

A diminutive form of Richard.

German

Ricky

Powerful leader; peaceful ruler

German

What names are variants of Maverick?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Maverick.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Mavrick

An independent man who avoids conformity

American

What names sound like Maverick?

If you like how Maverick sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Maverick.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Averel

Boar battle

English

Averell

Boar battle

English

Averet

Brave, strong boar

English

Averett

Brave, strong boar

English

Averil

Boar battle

English

Broderick

“The son of Roderick,” from the Welsh mab (son of) and Roderick.

Welsh

Chadwick

Dairy farm of Ceadda

English

Diedrick

Power of the tribe

German

Dominick

Of the Lord

Latin

Finnick

Created Name

American

Frederick

Peaceful ruler

German

Garrick

Spear-rule

English

Kendrick

Bold power

English

Laverick

Wildly Independent

American

Merrick

“A serving ruler,” from the Latin mereri (to serve) and the hypothetical root rik (ruler).

Welsh

Patrick

Nobleman

Latin

Roderick

Famous power

German

Warwick

Buildings near the weir

English

What names are similar to Maverick?

Find a name that’s like Maverick, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Archer

Bowman

English

Bentley

Bent grass meadow

English

Brantley

Fire

English

Braxton

Brock's town

English

Hunter

Hunter

English

King

King

English

Maddox

Son of Madoc

Welsh

Tucker

Cloth softener

English

Waylon

Land by the road

English

Weston

West town

English

Lists With Maverick

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Maverick.

Siblings of Maverick

Mamas with kids named Maverick also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Rowan

Of the rowan tree

Gaelic

Damon

One who tames, subdues

Greek

Levi

Joined together

Hebrew

Gracen
Brooke

Small stream

English

Atlas

Enduring

Greek

Emerson

Emery's son

English

Jenson

Son of Jan; God is gracious

Scandinavian

Jaxon

Son of Jack

English

Easton

East town

English

Lyrik
Ella

Other goddess

Hebrew

Hudson

Son of Hudd

English

Sawyer

Wood Cutter

English

Motley

40 Comments

  1. Maverick was a good name for french and English pronunciation for Quebec in our bilingual USA and Canadian family.

    I dislike that an older pick up truck model is also named Maverick. I also am not sure I like or dislike that it is closely associated with Top Gun Maverick.

    I coincidentally also chose a middle name of Dakota…which is also probably a less than notable tough guy vehicle model.

    But overall, I like the name. It was very difficult to find one pronounced well in French and English. Especially since my french Canadian husband didn’t really like any french names. ?

    Reply

  2. My husband is a big fan of the movie Top Gun, and that’s what peaked his interest in obtaining his pilots license. When he proposed he sang one of the songs in the movie, and then at our wedding him and his groomsman surprised me, and sang the song again infront of everyone. Maverick is sentimental to us so I’m glad we went with it!

    Reply

  3. We actually let our daughter decide his name. We hadn’t had Maverick on our list at all. The day he was born, she suggested it, and we loved it! His name has a nice ring to it along with his last name. And he just looks like a Mav! We are so in love ?

    Reply

  4. Has a strong meaning

    Reply

  5. We loved the meaning of Maverick -independent; nonconformist. My husband and I also met at a country bar named the Maverick.

    Reply

  6. My father’s name was Rick and he passed away in February 2023 so we chose Maverick to honor him. Also it means independent thinker which we like.

    Reply

  7. My husband and I went over names so many times and when we talked about Maverick we both knew that was going to be our sweet boy’s name!

    Reply

  8. I left my s.o pick out the baby name this time . & we wanted something different. Maverick is off of, of course a good movie . It also means rebel, which we like.

    Reply

  9. I loved Maverick because it’s means an independent minded person who doesn’t follow the crowd. It’s also not that popular. Very masculine for our boy. We call him Mav.

    Reply

  10. We chose Maverick because it was unique enough and liked the meaning of independent thinker. My husband also has an affinity for all things western and Maverick fell in line with that.

    Reply

  11. It was honestly one of the names we came across and Dad and I agreed for once on a name!
    The name means independent ?

    Reply

  12. I chose my son’s name because of our pregnancy journey. My husband and I had 2 miscarriages within 6 months last year the first being with twins. So I wanted a strong boys name. His middle name came to us first in a dream actual. Emmanuel (which means God’s is with us) I liked it but didn’t love it and my husband loved it. I came across Maverick and was in love! So to compromise, I felt since his middle name came to BOTH of us in a dream, the meaning behind it, our journey it only made sense to go with Maverick Emmanuel 🙂

    One thing I dislike about his name is the name Rick or Ricky lol we will not be using that for short. We call him Mavi or Mave 🙂

    Reply

  13. My 5th son. This is my lil Angel baby…he was born December 25, 2016. I had Easton in January and Maverick in December of 2016. Two in one year! I must of had something to prove huh? Lol. Maverick Addikus Goins passed on October 7, 2017 @ 9 months old….due to a brain aneurysm caused by his A.V.M. I miss him so much and forever love my baby!!

    Reply

  14. There is a MotoGP motorcycle rider named Maverick Vinialles from Spain and the second I saw his first name I fell in love. I think it is a cool name and you are destined for something awesome. I also loved the meaning behind it as being a feee thinker.

    Reply

  15. Maverick is a biblical name meaning valiant hero. I chose it because it is a masculine and strong name that isn’t too common. Mav is our rainbow baby. He has an older brother, Drake, who went to be with Jesus 6 years ago.

    Reply

  16. How – his daddy chose it because of being from his favorite movie but not Top Gun like most think, it’s from a Mel Gibson movie actually called Maverick.

    I’m indifferent about the name. I wasn’t the biggest fan of it because I had no say this go round in his name.

    Reply

  17. My husband is the one who picked out the name he got it from a TV show. We talked about the same and at first I really didn’t like it but then I kept saying it and them boom I fell in love with the name maverick and now that he’s born the name fits him perfectly ?

    Reply

  18. His whole name is Maverick Allen King which translates to a handsome ruler who thinks independently.

    Reply

  19. We chose the name Maverick because it is unique and it has Texas roots. The meaning behind our little boys name says it all, an unorthodox or independent-minded person, we can only hope that he will think for himself and make his own choices and to March by the beat of his own drum.

    Reply

  20. I actually don’t remember how we picked Maverick but I tried lots of other names while pregnant and just kept coming back to that one. I love that it’s unique and a cool name, I dislike that EVERYONE thinks we named him that because of Top Gun.

    Reply

  21. We picked the name because of the meaning. We intend for our son to embody this energy in how he shows up in the world.

    We love everything about it. When people hear it they think of strength and power. That’s our intention for his character.

    Reply

  22. My wife and I were just online searching though the list of male names and we agreed on Maverick, it’s such a lovely name. I’m very independent person and I really like that for my son ??

    Reply

  23. I named my son Maverick in 2002. It fits him well. He definitely shines with his name. His full name is Maverick Joseph Anthony. He is very proud of his name.

    Reply

  24. Well my husband really wanted a jr but i wanted my
    Son to have his own name. My husbands favorite basketball team is the Dallas Mavericks so I suggested the name Maverick. We tabled it for a while then we began to see the name everywhere. In a movie, on a building, etc. We then looked up the name and it was just so strong and powerful that it stuck. It really fits my son as well.

    Reply

  25. 🙂

    Reply

  26. I Chose Maverick bc it means independent, my name is unique and I wanted something that was also unique.

    My husband wanted a short middle name so we decided on Gage again a not so common name.

    Reply

  27. We was trying to find a name that started with an M. This was perfect. My husband wanted to sort of name him after his best friend whom passed away a couple years ago (Rickardo but went by Ricky).

    Reply

  28. Maverick Addikus is my Christmas baby…he is my 5th son…born 11months apart from his brother…Easton born in 2016 also…two in one year!! Unfortunately…Maverick is my angel baby…he passed on 10-7-17 from a brain aneurysm ???

    Reply

  29. My significant other and I had quite a few boy names but Mavericks meaning is Independent Man. It’s a hearty solid name and that seem to fit our little man. He’s just like his dad ?

    Reply

  30. I found the name on a baby naming website. It was the only name my husband and I could agree on haha. We choose maverick James so he has the same initials as his dad who has been deployed since I was 14 weeks pregnant and won’t be back until the baby is 3 months old.

    Reply

    • We named our son maverick James ?

      Reply

  31. My husband loves westerns and I love names that are different. This name seemed perfect for us.

    Reply

  32. We picked Maverick randomly! We wanted something unique but not too weird. My husband and I were reading through a list of random baby names and that was the only boy one that stuck!

    Reply

    • That’s the criteria I use to pick my baby names! Something that’s not too popular, but at the same time, people won’t think, “why’d you name your kid THAT?” My first son is Elliott Michael, born Oct, 2015. Now I’m 25w pregnant with my second, also a boy, and his father and I can’t seem to come up with a name! I came across Maverick on a list and at first I wasn’t a fan, but after learning the meaning and thinking about it, I really like it! He is on the fence still, but I told him to think about it because it grows on you!

      Reply

  33. I had three names picked out. And maverick was one of them and my oldest nephew liked the name. So my oldest nephew my son maverick. And i love the name Maverick. I wouldn’t change his name for nothing.

    Reply

  34. We came up with the name Maverick from the movie Top Gun with Tom Cruise. For one it was our 18 year old sons favorite movie and the name Maverick was not really a common name.

    Reply

  35. Just loved the name.

    Reply

  36. Best name ever!

    Reply

  37. The story goes that a rancher (last name Maverick) refused to brand his cattle, which is how the name got the meaning. My husband and I tend to be Mavericks and go against the grain; also, he was born in South Dakota.

    I love that my husband’s name (Eric) is in Maverick. I hope no one ever calls him Rick, haha.

    Reply

  38. This name definitely fits my son! He came out weighing 9lbs 13oz and has such a strong personality!

    Reply

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