Magnus

maleLatin

Directly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin.

Origin: Latin — From 'magnus' (great), adopted into Scandinavian royal naming from around the 10th century.

Official popularity data is available for 5 regions, from 1945 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #3 in Norway in 2014. See regions.

Magnus: Recorded every year since 1945, it reached #3 in 2013, and it was still inside the top 100 in 2025.

5registrars recorded it
121times a registrar ranked it
81years from first to last
#3highest recorded position
29groupings it qualifies for
43names it appears alongside

What stands out in Magnus's record

Ranked every year since 1945, without a single year missing. Names by continuity of record
Held a top-100 place for 50 years running. Names by top-100 run
Appears alongside 43 other names across 6 kinds of recorded relationship. All recorded relationships
Shares a published list with another name across 81 years. Longest shared records

MAG-nuss/ˈmæɡnəs/

Compare Magnus Run Name Checker on Magnus

Data Confidence

Evidence: HighCompleteness: CompleteEditorial review: 2026-06-15

Confidence in the evidencebehind this name's data — never a rating of the name itself, and never affected by how well it matches your preferences. How this is assessed

Because: backed by officially or academically authoritative sources, recently verified, most expected sections are populated, popularity data covers multiple regions.

Source authority

Averaged from the real per-claim source-authority assessments already computed for this name's meaning/origin/pronunciation/popularity evidence.

Independent corroboration

Averaged from the real per-claim supporting-source counts already computed for this name's evidence.

See full evidence assessment (8 dimensions, 1 not yet tracked)

Source agreement

No recorded source disagreement for this name's meanings or origins.

Recency

Calculated from how long ago this record was last verified (2026-06-15), against a 270-day staleness threshold.

Geographic relevance

Calculated from the number of geographies with official popularity data (5) — broader official coverage means the evidence base is relevant to more of where the name is actually used.

Completeness

Calculated from how many of the expected data sections (variants, similar names, popularity, notable usage, IPA pronunciation) are actually populated for this name.

Direct observation vs. inference

Averaged from the real per-claim direct-observation-vs-inference ratios already computed for this name's evidence.

Identity & variant resolution quality

Cross-source identity and variant resolution requires HEKNO Knowledge, which isn't connected yet.

Name Characteristics

How these are calculated

Descriptive attributes of the name itself — not a confidence measurement, and not an overall quality score. Namewise doesn't approve or disapprove of names.

Pronunciation clarity

Editorial judgement of how consistently this name is pronounced correctly on first read, mapped from an easy/moderate/variable rating to a number. Describes the name — not a measure of evidence confidence.

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling: shorter names with fewer irregular letter clusters score higher. A disclosed formula, not an editorial opinion — and not a confidence measurement.

Recorded regional spread

Derived from how many geographies' official statistics record this name. It measures where the name is registered, not how well-known it feels to people living there.

International spread

Derived from the same official statistical coverage, scaled to reflect how widely the name crosses national datasets. Not a measure of how easily it is understood in another language.

Trend stability

Derived from the name's traditional/modern classification and its current popularity trend direction.

Overview

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Directly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin.
Pronunciation: MAG-nuss
Syllables: 2
Common nicknames: Mags
Classification: Traditional & modern
Gender usage: male
Language family: Latin

Popularity

Region

Rising

among boys in England and Wales · 1996–2025

View as table

England and Wales · Boys rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#1337
1997	#1113
1998	#850
1999	#750
2000	#953
2001	#786
2002	#1077
2003	#813
2004	#875
2005	#788
2006	#863
2007	#584
2008	#508
2009	#737
2010	#589
2011	#718
2012	#625
2013	#565
2014	#489
2015	#406
2016	#457
2017	#397
2018	#414
2019	#403
2020	#392
2021	#348
2022	#335
2023	#357
2024	#358
2025	#432

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

RisingEngland and Wales · Boys

Recorded in official data among boys in Norway in every year from 1945 to 2025.

In 2025: #17 among boys in Norway, #432 among boys in England and Wales.

Official data from 5 national registrars across 5 regions, 1945–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys

Magnus appears in 4 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Norway · Boys, which has ranked it in 81 years beginning in 1945, and has registered 18,361 births with the name.

Magnus across 4 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Magnus's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
Norway · Boys	#125 (1945)	#3 (2013)	#17 (2025)	81 of 81	18,361 (1945–2025)	498 (1996)
England and Wales · Boys	#1337 (1996)	#335 (2022)	#432 (2025)	30 of 30	1,888 (1996–2025)	129 (2022)
Norway	#20 (2014)	#12 (2025)	#12 (2025)	4 of 12	not published	not published
Northern Ireland · Boys	#415 (2015)	#312 (2023)	#312 (2023)	4 of 9	15 (2015–2023)	5 (2023)

Where the highest position is not the biggest year

Inside a single year a registrar's ranking is its birth counts put in order, so the top of a list is always the name given to the most babies that year. Across years the two separate, because the number of births and the number of names sharing them both change.

In Norway · Boys the name reached its highest position, #3, in 2013, when 353 births were registered with it. More were registered in 1996 — 498 — in a year it ranked #6.

Magnus by decade in Norway · Boys

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Magnus in Norway · Boys, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1940s	203	5 of 10	41
1950s	263	10 of 10	26
1960s	260	10 of 10	26
1970s	872	10 of 10	87
1980s	3,052	10 of 10	305
1990sbusiest	4,369	10 of 10	437
2000s	4,313	10 of 10	431
2010s	3,438	10 of 10	344
2020s	1,591	6 of 10	265

Across Norway · Boys, the 1990s were its busiest decade, averaging 437 births a year.

See the names Norwayhas recorded the most births with →

Magnus appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

What the record shows

Recorded by 5 registrars between 1945 and 2025, ranked in 81 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #3, first reached in 2013.

It held a top-100 place in 51 years, 50 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 498 births, registered in Norway in 1996.

1 registrar ranked it inside their own top 10.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1996, and 79 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Magnus was ranked #3 in Norway · Boys in 2013. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Magni · #226, 33y
Magnolia · #2138, 12y
Magny · #205, 22y
Maha · #622, 30y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 5 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Emil · #1, 81y
Ida · #1, 81y
Jonas · #1, 77y
Jakob · #6, 81y

Also first recorded in the 1940s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1940 and 1949.

Anders · #3, 81y
Angela · #3, 74y
Anna · #3, 81y
Arthur · #3, 81y

Comparisons involving Magnus

Existing comparison pages where Magnus and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Magnus in the same published list across at least 25 years.

Magnus vs Frode
In 1945 they stood at #125 and #116 in Norway · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2008 they were #5 and #551.
Magnus · Frode · 63 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2008 Norway ranking
Magnus vs Stig
In 1945 they stood at #125 and #119 in Norway · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2021 they were #9 and #493.
Magnus · Stig · 69 shared years, 1945–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2021 Norway ranking
Robert vs Magnus
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #125 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #17.
Robert · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Norway ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Magnus and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

William vs Magnus
In 2012, William moved ahead of Magnus in Norway · Boys — #5 and #4 the year before became #1 and #4.
William · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2012 Norway ranking
Emil vs Magnus
In 2014, Emil moved ahead of Magnus in Norway · Boys — #6 and #3 the year before became #2 and #3.
Emil · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2014 Norway ranking
Oliver vs Magnus
In 2015, Oliver moved ahead of Magnus in Norway · Boys — #6 and #3 the year before became #2 and #8.
Oliver · Magnus · 60 shared years, 1959–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2015 Norway ranking

Compared inside Norway lists

Pairs involving Magnus measured in Norway's own published lists — the registrar that recorded Magnus at its highest position.

Andreas vs Magnus
Andreas and Magnus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #17.
Andreas · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
See the 2025 Norway ranking
Magnus vs Arne
Magnus and Arne were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #17 and #222.
Magnus · Arne · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
See the 2025 Norway ranking
Bjørn vs Magnus
Bjørn and Magnus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #56 and #17.
Bjørn · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
See the 2025 Norway ranking

Norway overview→

Magnus and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,577 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Magnus without appearing here.

Magnus moved ahead of

Mathias
In 1996 they stood at #1337 and #1337 in England and Wales · Boys; by 1997 that had become #1113 and #2859.
Garry
In 2002 they stood at #1077 and #1077 in England and Wales · Boys; by 2003 that had become #813 and #1771.
Barry
In 2004 they stood at #875 and #815 in England and Wales · Boys; by 2005 that had become #788 and #1617.
Ashleigh
In 2000 they stood at #953 and #881 in England and Wales · Boys; by 2001 that had become #786 and #1595.

Moved ahead of Magnus

Arlo
In 2008 they stood at #508 and #567 in England and Wales · Boys; by 2009 that had become #737 and #311.
Hunter
In 2010 they stood at #589 and #625 in England and Wales · Boys; by 2011 that had become #718 and #473.
Hudson
In 2008 they stood at #508 and #538 in England and Wales · Boys; by 2009 that had become #737 and #498.
Cooper
In 2003 they stood at #813 and #1248 in England and Wales · Boys; by 2004 that had become #875 and #731.

Moved the opposite way to Magnus

Arild
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Boys, Magnus went from #125 to #17 while Arild went from #32 to #489.
Arne Compare
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Boys, Magnus went from #125 to #17 while Arne went from #6 to #222.
Bjørn Compare
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Boys, Magnus went from #125 to #17 while Bjørn went from #3 to #56.
Dag
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Boys, Magnus went from #125 to #17 while Dag went from #48 to #426.

Moved the same way as Magnus

Daniel Compare
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Boys, Magnus went from #125 to #17 and Daniel from #280 to #66.
David Compare
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Boys, Magnus went from #125 to #17 and David from #167 to #88.
Emil Compare
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Boys, Magnus went from #125 to #17 and Emil from #271 to #2.
Even Compare
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Boys, Magnus went from #125 to #17 and Even from #180 to #42.

Meaning & Origin

Directly 'great' or 'mighty' in Latin.

VerifiedSource: Namewise editorial team, Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Latin

From 'magnus' (great), adopted into Scandinavian royal naming from around the 10th century.

VerifiedSource: Namewise editorial team, Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Other names with a researched meaning and origin →

Where Magnus is officially recorded

5 official registrars have recorded Magnus, between 1945 and 2025. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
Norway	1945–2025	81	#3 in 2013
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#335 in 2022
Northern Ireland	2015–2023	4	#312 in 2023
Republic of Ireland	2019	1	#764 in 2019
Scotland	2024	1	#130 in 2024

Its high point came 11 years earlier in Norway (2013) than in Scotland (2024).

Variants

Mags · nickname

Similar Names

See full comparison →

Alexander4% similar

Both carry strong historical/regal associations and a 'strength' meaning theme.

Magnus vs Alexander

Leif0% similar

Both are historical Old Norse-associated names with modern niche revival.

Similarity is a demonstration score — see methodology.

Spelling

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling — see Name Characteristics above.

No commonly used alternate spellings recorded.

Pronunciation

MAG-nuss/ˈmæɡnəs/

Syllables: 2
Ease: easy

Demonstration dataSource: Namewise editorial team.Confidence: low.

Where Magnus Is Recorded

National statistical agencies have recorded Magnus in these places. This shows where the name is used — not where it comes from, and not that it carries particular cultural significance there.

England and WalesNorthern IrelandScotlandRepublic of IrelandNorway

Notable Usage

No safely-sourced notable usage recorded for this name yet.

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Preview with a surname

Entirely local — nothing you type here is saved or sent anywhere.

Full sibling-set and initials-across-a-shortlist matching is a planned premium feature — see Premium.

Magnus

Magnus at a glance

What stands out in Magnus's record

Overview

Popularity

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Magnus across 4 official records

Where the highest position is not the biggest year

Magnus by decade in Norway · Boys

Magnus appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Magnus

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1940s

Comparisons involving Magnus

Longest shared records

Order changes

Compared inside Norway lists

Magnus and the names beside it

Magnus moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Magnus

Moved the opposite way to Magnus

Moved the same way as Magnus

Meaning & Origin

Where Magnus is officially recorded

Variants

Similar Names

Spelling

Pronunciation

Where Magnus Is Recorded

Notable Usage

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Magnus at a glance

What stands out in Magnus's record

Magnus across 4 official records

Where the highest position is not the biggest year

Magnus by decade in Norway · Boys

Magnus appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Magnus

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1940s

Comparisons involving Magnus

Longest shared records

Order changes

Compared inside Norway lists

Magnus and the names beside it

Magnus moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Magnus

Moved the opposite way to Magnus

Moved the same way as Magnus