Magnus vs Richard
Magnus and Richardcompared 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 2023, Magnus was ranked #10 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Magnus was ranked #130 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Magnus was ranked #764 and Richard #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Magnus was ranked #392 and Richard #304 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Magnus was ranked #432 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
Magnus and Richard over time
Magnus and Richard appear together in 2 published lists, across 109 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Richard 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Magnus and Richard changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2023, ending at #10 and #481.
- Mirrored each other
Over 79 shared years in Norway · Boys, Magnus rose about as far as Richard fell — from #125 and #219 in 1945 to #10 and #481 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Magnus and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #432 and #431.
List by list
Norway · Boys79 shared years, 1945–2023
Magnus held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Richard in 18.
Highest recorded here: Magnus #3 in 2013, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Magnus #10, Richard #481.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Magnus held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Richard in 26.
Highest recorded here: Magnus #335 in 2022, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Magnus #432, Richard #431.
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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Directly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin. | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Latin | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæɡnəs/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Magnus is recorded with a Latin origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Magnus and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- Magnus's recorded meaning differs from Richard'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 Richard 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
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys