Magnus
Magnus is a boy's name of Norse origin.
Meaning
Great or grand.
Origin and history
Magnus is a name of Latin origin that became heavily established in Scandinavian and Norse tradition after being adopted by medieval Scandinavian royalty. Derived from the Latin word for 'great', it has a long history of use across Northern Europe. In the United States, it has seen a steady rise in popularity in recent years as a strong, classic choice.
Popularity in the United States
6,172 babies in the United States have been named Magnus since 1880. It ranks #1529 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #733.
States where it is most popular
- CA (17.9 %)
- TX (7.8 %)
- WA (7.8 %)
- NY (6.8 %)
- MN (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 21 |
| 1900-1910 | 29 |
| 1910-1920 | 122 |
| 1920-1930 | 132 |
| 1930-1940 | 66 |
| 1940-1950 | 23 |
| 1950-1960 | 39 |
| 1960-1970 | 18 |
| 1970-1980 | 30 |
| 1980-1990 | 74 |
| 1990-2000 | 212 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,028 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,389 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,989 |
Famous people named Magnus
- Magnus Carlsen: Chess Grandmaster, World Champion
- Magnus Samuelsson: Strongman, Actor
Fun facts
- The name became widespread in Scandinavia following King Magnus I of Norway, who was named after Charlemagne (Carolous Magnus).
- Although popularized in Northern Europe, the name stems directly from the Latin adjective 'magnus', meaning great.