Maxwell in Japanese Katakana

Tips for writing Maxwell in katakana

• Write the small ェ at about half size, in the lower left of the square (in horizontal writing). ウェ is one sound, we.
• Japanese has a single sound for English L and R, so both are written with the ラ-row (ra, ri, ru, re, ro).
• Katakana is written left to right like English, or top to bottom in vertical text. Keep every character the same size except the small ones.

Maxwell on Japanese forms

Example full name: John Maxwell → ジョン・マクスウェル (Western order, names separated by ・).

Most Japanese forms put the family name first: マクスウェル ジョン. In a フリガナ (furigana) field write it in katakana; if the field says ふりがな use hiragana (まくすうぇる じょん); some bank and card forms ask for half-width katakana (ﾏｸｽｳｪﾙ ｼﾞｮﾝ).

Japan has no official katakana spelling for foreign names. Once you use a spelling for a bank account, phone contract or employer, keep using the same one so your records match.

FAQ

How do you write Maxwell in Japanese?

Maxwell is usually written マクスウェル (makusuweru) in katakana, the script Japanese uses for foreign names. You may also see マックスウェル. In hiragana it is まくすうぇる.

Is there a kanji for Maxwell?

No. Foreign names have no official kanji; they are written in katakana. Kanji versions offered online (ateji) are chosen only for sound and look, and their "meanings" are made up, so this site does not provide them.