How to say it
MAV · er · ik
ˈmæv.ɚ.ɪk
Masculine
Maverick
Independent thinker
What it means
From Samuel Maverick (1803 to 1870), a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle. Any unbranded cow in the area became a 'maverick,' and the word stuck.
The English word maverick (an independent-minded person who refuses to follow conventions) entered the language because of Samuel Maverick's stubbornness. Tom Cruise's character Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in Top Gun (1986) gave the name its first generation of cinematic weight, and Top Gun: Maverick (2022) renewed it. The modern surge as a given name started after 1986 and intensified after 2022. Currently US top fifty for boys. Rarely shortened; the three syllables carry the full punch.
How to spell Maverick
The standard spelling is Maverick. Common variants include Mavrick, Maverik, but Maverick is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #36 in 2024, currently #49 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Top Gun is the inescapable association. The 2022 sequel renewed it for a second generation, so this isn't going anywhere.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell Tom Cruise's character in Top Gun, 1986 and 2022
- Samuel Maverick 19th-century Texan rancher who refused to brand his cattle, hence the word
Spelling variants
- Mavrick
- Maverik
Names with the same feeling
See Maverick from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Maverick mean?
- From Samuel Maverick (1803 to 1870), a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle. Any unbranded cow in the area became a 'maverick,' and the word stuck.
- What does Maverick mean in American English?
- In American English, Maverick means "Independent thinker." The English word maverick (an independent-minded person who refuses to follow conventions) entered the language because of Samuel Maverick's stubbornness. Tom Cruise's character Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in Top Gun (1986) gave the name its first generation of cinematic weight, and Top Gun: Maverick (2022) renewed it. The modern surge as a given name started after 1986 and intensified after 2022. Currently US top fifty for boys. Rarely shortened; the three syllables carry the full punch.
- How do you pronounce Maverick?
- Maverick is pronounced ˈmæv.ɚ.ɪk. Say it as MAV-er-ik, with the stress on the "mav" syllable.
- How do you spell Maverick?
- The standard spelling is Maverick. Common spelling variants include Mavrick, Maverik.
- Is Maverick a boy or girl name?
- Maverick is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Maverick?
- Maverick ranked #49 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.