The baby name Pax may be just three letters, but it’s rich with style and meaning.
Thanks to Virginia for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME PAX MEAN?
The baby name Pax is one of those Latin origin word names. Maybe you can translate without thinking about it. Pax means peace.
It’s the kind of virtue name that feels unambiguously good. Universal, even.
The Pax Romana refers to a long period in the first and second centuries, free of warfare, after Rome had conquered the world as they knew it.
The Emperor Augustus was the ruler responsible for the peace, as well as the propaganda machine that convinced the Roman people to embrace the unfamiliar condition.
Around this time, peace was personified as the goddess Pax.
PAX IN ROMAN MYTHOLOGY
Yes, that’s right – the Roman goddess of peace.
The Greeks named their goddess of peace Irene.
While Irene – as well as forms like Irina and Eirini – remain exclusively feminine, the Latin Pax crossed gender lines, and is now more commonly masculine.
The Spanish Paz, on the other hand, became a feminine possibility. Paz is the Spanish word for peace, from the Latin. Like several first names, it originates with a title of the Virgin Mary. In this case, it’s Nuestra Señora de la Paz, or Our Lady of Peace. While it’s rare in the US, a handful of figures make it familiar, like Spanish-born actress Paz Vega.
Star Wars fans might also think of Paz Vizsla, which makes the name masculine again.
ANOTHER ORIGIN FOR PAX
The meaning of the name Pax is fairly clear, but there are at least two other origins sometimes mentioned:
- The Mayan solar calendar lists Pax as one of 18 months, the month for planting.
- In Pre-Norman England, the personal name Pæcc was used. While that meaning is lost, it survives in the place name, surname, and now first name Paxton.
The baby name Pax was used in tiny numbers in the 1970s, mostly as a boy’s name.
Then former power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt put the baby name Pax on parents’ radar. They welcomed son Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt in 2007.
It sounds quite a bit like classic Max, a twenty-first century staple. Paxton, too, has ranked in the US Top 1000 since the late 1990s.
There’s no question that the celebrity birth announcement boosted the use of this name.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME PAX?
The baby name Pax appeared in US popularity data just twice prior to the 2000s. Seven boys received the name in 1974, and five in 1975.
Beginning in 2007, however, the name Pax has increased in use. As of 2023, 62 boys received the name.
It’s also occasionally heard as a girl’s name. Five girls were named Pax in 2023.
MEANINGFUL AND MODERN
The baby name Pax combines two styles in one. It shares the short, high energy punch of modern picks like Axel and Kai.
It’s very much a twenty-first century choice. It fits with Maddox and Knox – Pax Jolie-Pitt’s real-life brothers – as well as boy names like Hendrix.
And yet, the meaning of Pax makes this an unambiguous virtue name, too. Pax might feel quiet, even contemplative rather than brash.
Both rare and familiar, meaningful and subtle, the baby name Pax is likely to please parents for lots of different reasons.
What do you think of the baby name Pax?
First published on September 12, 2011, this post was revised on December 9, 2020 and again on November 28, 2024.
For me, this name is a “not on my kid” name. I don’t really like the P in names unless you soften it with another letter. However, it would be cool to meet a little Pax.
Pax Christi is a Catholic peace movement. I’ve always thought the organization sounded like a girl’s name, so Pax feels feminine to me.
We already have a Jacks(on) in the family, so I it doesn’t work for me… but it’s a perfectly nice name. On the other hand, Paxson, Paxtin and Paxon are really ugly.
Pax is a quirky choice with a great meaning and I much prefer it to Paxton. I can see the potential to use the name Pax for either gender.
Related: Paz (which I believe is Spanish for peace) is the name of an actress on Boardwalk Empire, Paz de la Huerta. There is also an actress named Paz Vega (who was in Spanglish), as well as a female musician named Paz Lenchantin.
A very nice point, Angela – thank you! To me, Paz (and Luz) are feminine; Pax and Lux are (mostly) masculine. This is an indefensible position, but there it is.
I think it’s the softer sound of the z plus the fact that they have some similarities to names like Liz and Liza makes them ‘feel’ feminine versus the brisk ‘x’ (and Max, Jax – medieval form of John, and Dax are all masculine names)
I like Pax! Short, sharp & handsome. Yes, Pax skews masculine to me. I used to know one (a male Pax), he should be about 30 now. Neat dude, but a little weird. I love the meaning. Peaceful me. 🙂 I’ll probably never use it, thinking of the Pax I knew but I do so like Pax!
About 20 years ago I read a Baby-Sitters Club book where Mallory rode a horse named Pax. I remember thinking it was a very cool and interesting name. Unfortunately, I now associate Pax with the antidepressant Paxil. Even though Paxton is a legit name, it sounds made-up to me.
Except, that I think of Pax as being decidely feminine, having known a few Maria Paxes and Maria Luzes. These are very common names in parts of South America.
It has a nice meaning, of course, but I can’t bring myself to like the sound of Pax. There really does seem to be a love affair going on with the letter X lately – I’m drawn to it myself, but usually only when it’s part of the traditional spelling of a name (sorry, I can’t get on board with Jaxon or Jaxson).
Dont really care much for Pax or Paxton. I do prefer Max, although that is way too common.
I actually do prefer Peyton or Presley. I’m surprised Presley never made an impression in the boys chart, considering Cindy Crawford named her son that.
And Elvis!
Pretty cool name! Not for me though.