Johan vs Magnus
Johan 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, Johan was ranked #39 and Magnus #17 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Johan was ranked #857 and Magnus #358 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Johan was ranked #764 and Magnus #764 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Johan and Magnus over time
Johan and Magnus appear together in 2 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Magnus held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Johan 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1977, Magnus moved ahead of Johan in Norway · Boys — #90 and #99 the year before became #89 and #61.
- Longest-running competitions
Johan and Magnus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #39 and #17.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Johan #31 in 2015, Magnus #3 in 2013.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Johan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Magnus in 51.
Highest recorded here: Johan #31 in 2015, Magnus #3 in 2013.
The order changed in 1977: Magnus moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #90 and #99; by 1977 that had become #89 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Johan #39, Magnus #17.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Johan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Magnus in 28.
Highest recorded here: Johan #692 in 2013, Magnus #335 in 2022.
The order changed in 1997: Magnus moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #853 and #1337; by 1997 that had become #1578 and #1113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Johan #857, 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 | Johan | 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 | /ˈmæɡnəs/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Mags |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #39 (2025) | Norway #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Magnus has a recorded origin (Latin); Johan does not have one recorded yet.
- Johan and Magnus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Magnus; Johan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Johan 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
Johan
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #46 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: #31 among boys in Norway, in 2015 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #39 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