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    The first name Magnus

    A boy’s name from Latin meaning “great”, “charlemagne”.

    Pronounced /ˈmæɡnəs/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Latin origin

    Magnus means “great”, “charlemagne” in Latin.

    Borrowed from Latin magnus (“great”), taken from the title of Carolus Magnus "Charlemagne" by an eleventh century king of Norway, and brought to Scotland in medieval times.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 91 boys were named Magnus, making it the 432nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2022, with 129 births (#335).

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,888
    babies named Magnus, 1996–2025
    #432
    rank in 2025
    2022
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Magnus with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Magnus at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 337 boys born in the United States were named Magnus, the 765th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2021, when 354 were.

    0200400 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    6,172
    babies named Magnus since 1880
    #765
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Magnus in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    馬格努斯 /马格努斯
    Mǎgénǔsī
    Chinese
    Mauno
    Finnish, also Maunu
    Magnús
    Icelandic

    Spelled Magnus in Danish, Estonian, Norwegian and Swedish too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Magnus

    • Malec

    Famous people named Magnus

    47 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Magnus, Duke of Holstein
      Danish prince, Prince-bishop of Ösel, King of Livonia (1540–1583)
    • Magnus Felix Ennodius
      Bishop of Pavia, 473–521
    • Magnus Landin Jacobsen
      Danish handball player, born 1995
    • Magnus Cort Nielsen
      Danish cyclist, born 1993
    • Magnus
      Duke of Saxony (1072-1106)
    • Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney
      Earl of Orkney from 1106 to c. 1117
    • Magnus Lindberg
      Finnish composer and pianist, born 1958
    • Magnus Brunner
      Austrian politician, finance minister, born 1972
    • Magnus Saugstrup
      Danish handball player, born 1996
    • Magnus I, Duke of Mecklenburg
      Duke of Mecklenburg (1383–1384)
    • Magnus Kirt
      Estonian athletics competitor (born 1990)
    • Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
      German noble, 1324–1373

    More Latin boys’ names

    All 381 names of Latin origin

    Questions

    What does the name Magnus mean?
    Magnus means “great”, “charlemagne” in Latin.
    What is the origin of the name Magnus?
    Borrowed from Latin magnus (“great”), taken from the title of Carolus Magnus "Charlemagne" by an eleventh century king of Norway, and brought to Scotland in medieval times.
    How popular is the name Magnus?
    In 2025, 91 boys born in England and Wales were named Magnus, ranking 432nd. Its peak was 2022, with 129 births.
    What are nicknames for Magnus?
    Common nicknames for Magnus include Malec.
    Is Magnus a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 6,172 US babies named Magnus since 1880 were boys.
    When was Magnus most popular?
    2021 in the United States, when 354 babies were named Magnus, its highest rank at 730th.
    How do you pronounce Magnus?
    Magnus is /ˈmæɡnəs/, 2 syllables.
    Is Magnus also a surname?
    Yes. Magnus is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.