Magnus vs Martin
Magnus and Martincompared 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, Magnus was ranked #17 and Martin #69 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Magnus was ranked #764 and Martin #91 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Magnus was ranked #130 and Martin #352 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Magnus was ranked #312 and Martin #272 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Magnus was ranked #432 and Martin #363 among boys in England and Wales.
Magnus and Martin over time
Magnus and Martin appear together in 2 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Martin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Magnus in 0.
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.
Martin 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 2007, Magnus moved ahead of Martin in Norway · Boys — #13 and #11 the year before became #4 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Magnus and Martin averaged 39.7 places apart, ending at #17 and #69.
- Longest-running competitions
Magnus and Martin were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #432 and #363.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Magnus held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Martin in 61.
Highest recorded here: Magnus #3 in 2013, Martin #1 in 1992.
The order changed in 2007: Magnus moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #13 and #11; by 2007 that had become #4 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Magnus #17, Martin #69.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Magnus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 30.
Highest recorded here: Magnus #335 in 2022, Martin #109 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Magnus #432, Martin #363.
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 | Magnus | Martin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Directly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin. | From the Roman name Martinus, connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Widely known through Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop and patron saint of France. |
| Origin | Latin | Latin (Ancient Roman) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæɡnəs/ | /ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Mags | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway #12 (2025) | Norway · Boys #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Magnus is recorded with a Latin origin, while Martin is recorded with a Latin (Ancient Roman) origin.
- Magnus and Martin both have 2 syllables.
- Magnus's recorded meaning differs from Martin'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 Magnus a "high" Data Confidence level and Martin a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 #432 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Martin
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #83 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: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys