Namewise

Magnus vs Nils

Magnus and Nilscompared 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 Nils #61 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Magnus was ranked #432 and Nils #4275 among boys in England and Wales.

Magnus and Nils over time

Magnus and Nils appear together in 2 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Magnus held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nils 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.

Nils 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 1978, Magnus moved ahead of Nils in Norway · Boys — #61 and #60 the year before became #49 and #52.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 25 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Magnus rose about as far as Nils fell — from #1337 and #2020 in 1996 to #432 and #4275 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Magnus and Nils were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #17 and #61.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025

    Magnus held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Nils in 33.

    Highest recorded here: Magnus #3 in 2013, Nils #21 in 1947.

    The order changed in 1978: Magnus moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #61 and #60; by 1978 that had become #49 and #52.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Magnus #17, Nils #61.

  • England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 1996–2025

    Magnus held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Nils in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Magnus #348 in 2021, Nils #1746 in 2001.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Magnus #432, Nils #4275.

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 Magnus

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

Other comparisons involving Nils

Pairs where Nils 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 — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

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 Magnus, Nils
FieldMagnusNils
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningDirectly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin.Not yet recorded
OriginLatinNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈmæɡnəs/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesMagsNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NOGB-ENW, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationNorway #12 (2025)Norway · Boys #61 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Magnus has a recorded origin (Latin); Nils does not have one recorded yet.
  • Magnus has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Nils.
  • A meaning is recorded for Magnus; Nils doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
  • The available evidence gives Magnus a "high" Data Confidence level and Nils 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

  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

Nils

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #26 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: #21 among boys in Norway, in 1947 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4275 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys