Given name & surname
Magnus
“great”·“a great man; one who is large”
Magnus is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “great” (Latin) and “a great man; one who is large” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “great” (Latin) and “a great man; one who is large” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
In Danish usage, Magnus developed from Magnús.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1890. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Magnus through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,172
- 6,172 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 354 babies
- 2025
- 337
- #765 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +12%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 337 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 765 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 12.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (37). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,326 as a first name in 2020; 2,186 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Magnus’s family of names
In German usage, Magnus has a diminutive in MANG. In Danish usage, Magnus developed from the Old Norse form Magnús. Magnus has a related form in Magno.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Magnus has relatives in 12 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
16 related names in 12 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Mangdiminutive · German
- Magnovariant
- Magnusslikely variant
- Mànasvariant · Scottish Gaelic
- Mangediminutive · Swedish
- Magnervariant · English
- Mannesvariant · English
- Monsvariant · Norwegian Bokmål
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Mànusequivalent
- Magnussen“son of” surname · Norwegian Bokmål
- Mänsvernacular form
- Magnúscognate · Old Norse, Icelandic
- МагнRussian
- MånsSwedish
- ମାଗ୍ନସ୍Odia
- MaunuFinnish
Show 3 moreShow fewer
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Magnus
- Magnus CarlsenNorwegian chess player (born 1990)
- Magnus HirschfeldGerman physician and sexologist (1868–1935)
- Magnus the GoodKing of Norway and Denmark1024–1047
- Magnus BarefootKing of Norway1073–1103
- Magnus ErikssonKing of Sweden and Norway (1316–1374)
- Magnus the LawmenderKing of Norway (1238–1280)
- Magnus LadulåsKing of Sweden from 1275 to 12901240–1290
- Magnus SigurdssonNorwegian monarch1115–1139
- Gösta Mittag-LefflerSwedish mathematician (1846–1927)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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