Magnus
Magnus was the 765th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 337 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 719th; the most babies were born in 2021 (354). Over the last ten years it has moved up 91 places. More babies were named Magnus in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning great (Latin) · Latin, Old Norse
Say it MAG-nus /ˈmæɡnəs/
- Rank in 2025
- #765 boys, up 36 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 337boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2021354 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,172babies recorded
What does the name Magnus mean?
Magnus is the Latin word for great. Wiktionary explains that it became a Norse royal name after an 11th-century Norwegian king was named after Charlemagne, Carolus Magnus, "Charles the Great," and that it reached Scotland in the Middle Ages. DMNES lists many Scandinavian kings named Magnus as well as several early saints. In the US Magnus has been used since 1890 and has become more common recently.
magnus (Latin, “great, large”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Manus, Magnús, Mack.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Magnus', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Magnus' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Magnus' (Norwegian Bokmål section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Magnus popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #765 | 337 |
| 2020 | #801 | 290 |
| 2010 | #1,152 | 161 |
| 2000 | #2,161 | 47 |
| 1990 | #4,315 | 13 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | #5,169 | 5 |
| 1960 | #3,537 | 7 |
| 1950 | #2,938 | 8 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | #2,717 | 10 |
| 1920 | #1,729 | 21 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | #1,095 | 5 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Magnus, counting every spelling?
Magnus has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #744 for boys in 2025, against #765 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Magnus?
337 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Magnus (0.09 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Magnus born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 25 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Magnus.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Magnus?
About 5,700 people born in the US named Magnus are alive today, with a median age of 9; half are between 5 and 16. That makes Magnus a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Magnus by state
How common Magnus was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Utah (3.1×), Idaho (3.0×), Washington (3.0×), Oregon (2.4×), Minnesota (2.4×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in South Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Magnus: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Magnus, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Magnus · Sibling names for Magnus
Questions about the name Magnus
What does Magnus mean?
Magnus means “great (Latin)” (Latin, Old Norse origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Magnus?
Magnus was the 765th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 337 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 719th; the most babies were born in 2021 (354). Over the last ten years it has moved up 91 places. More babies were named Magnus in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Magnus a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Magnus in the US.
Where is Magnus most popular?
In 2021–2025, Magnus was most common in Utah (0.62 per 1,000 boys), followed by Idaho and Washington.