Arnold vs Magnus
Arnold and Magnuscompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arnold was ranked #421 and Magnus #17 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arnold was ranked #727 and Magnus #130 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Arnold was ranked #711 and Magnus #358 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Arnold was ranked #764 and Magnus #764 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arnold and Magnus over time
Arnold and Magnus appear together in 2 published lists, across 64 years of shared records. Magnus held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Arnold in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Arnold reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Magnus in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1952, Magnus moved ahead of Arnold in Norway · Boys — #152 and #171 the year before became #180 and #145.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arnold and Magnus changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #421 and #17.
- Longest-running competitions
Arnold and Magnus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 35 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #421 and #17.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arnold #632 in 2022, Magnus #335 in 2022.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1945 they stood at #121 and #125 in Norway · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #421 and #17.
List by list
Norway · Boys35 shared years, 1945–2025
Arnold held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Magnus in 32.
Highest recorded here: Arnold #121 in 1945, Magnus #6 in 1996.
The order changed in 1952: Magnus moved ahead. In 1951 they stood at #152 and #171; by 1952 that had become #180 and #145.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arnold #421, Magnus #17.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arnold held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Magnus in 28.
Highest recorded here: Arnold #632 in 2022, Magnus #335 in 2022.
The order changed in 1997: Magnus moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #818 and #1337; by 1997 that had become #1257 and #1113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arnold #711, Magnus #358.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Arnold | Magnus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Directly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmæɡnəs/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Mags |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #421 (2025) | Norway #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Magnus has a recorded origin (Latin); Arnold does not have one recorded yet.
- Arnold and Magnus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Magnus; Arnold doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Arnold a "medium" Data Confidence level and Magnus a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Arnold
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #121 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #121 among boys in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #421 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Magnus
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #125 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #12 in Norway, in 2025.
Norway