Namewise

Erik vs Magnus

Erik 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, Erik was ranked #64 and Magnus #17 among boys in Norway.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Erik was ranked #404 and Magnus #130 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Erik was ranked #348 and Magnus #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Erik was ranked #408 and Magnus #432 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2019, Erik was ranked #466 and Magnus #764 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Erik and Magnus over time

Erik and Magnus appear together in 2 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Erik reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1985, Magnus moved ahead of Erik in Norway · Boys — #20 and #21 the year before became #20 and #19.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Erik and Magnus changed places 14 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #408 and #432.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Magnus rose about as far as Erik fell — from #27 and #125 in 1945 to #64 and #17 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Erik and Magnus were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #408 and #432.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Erik #310 in 2021, Magnus #335 in 2022.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025

    Erik held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Magnus in 41.

    Highest recorded here: Erik #15 in 1981, Magnus #3 in 2013.

    The order changed in 1985: Magnus moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #20 and #21; by 1985 that had become #20 and #19.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Erik #64, Magnus #17.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Erik held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Magnus in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Erik #310 in 2021, Magnus #335 in 2022.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Erik #408, Magnus #432.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Erik

Pairs where Erik shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Magnus

Pairs where Magnus shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — longest-running competitions.

All longest-running competitions→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Erik, Magnus
FieldErikMagnus
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningTraditionally interpreted as 'eternal ruler' or 'honoured ruler'; historically a name borne by kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.Directly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin.
OriginOld NorseLatin
Pronunciation/ˈeːrɪk//ˈmæɡnəs/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedMags
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NOGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #64 (2025)Norway #12 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Erik is recorded with a Old Norse origin, while Magnus is recorded with a Latin origin.
  • Erik and Magnus both have 2 syllables.
  • Erik's recorded meaning differs from Magnus's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
  • The available evidence gives Erik 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

Erik

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #27 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in Norway, in 1981 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #408 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Magnus

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys