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…
Every Magnus since 1890 — 6,172 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Magnus
Magnus is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #765 in 2025 with 337 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1890, 6,172 American babies have been named Magnus. Its peak came in 2021, when 354 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Magnus stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Magnus year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 337 | #765 |
| 2024 | 343 | #747 |
| 2023 | 338 | #763 |
| 2022 | 327 | #774 |
| 2021 | 354 | #730 |
| 2020 | 290 | #801 |
| 2019 | 299 | #781 |
| 2018 | 295 | #781 |
| 2017 | 335 | #719 |
| 2016 | 296 | #796 |
| 2015 | 263 | #856 |
| 2014 | 215 | #978 |
| 2013 | 209 | #959 |
| 2012 | 162 | #1,133 |
| 2011 | 154 | #1,164 |
| 2010 | 161 | #1,152 |
| 2009 | 125 | #1,374 |
| 2008 | 161 | #1,136 |
| 2007 | 143 | #1,234 |
| 2006 | 126 | #1,314 |
| 2005 | 114 | #1,331 |
| 2004 | 70 | #1,797 |
| 2003 | 87 | #1,494 |
| 2002 | 76 | #1,601 |
| 2001 | 79 | #1,537 |
| 2000 | 47 | #2,161 |
| 1995 | 14 | #4,428 |
| 1990 | 13 | #4,315 |
| 1985 | 7 | #5,524 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | 5 | #5,169 |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | 7 | #3,537 |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | 8 | #2,938 |
| 1945 | 5 | #3,600 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | 10 | #2,717 |
| 1925 | 12 | #2,535 |
| 1920 | 21 | #1,729 |
| 1915 | 17 | #1,750 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | 6 | #1,180 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | 5 | #1,095 |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Magnus
- Magnus Maximus Politician · 335–388
- Magnus IV of Sweden Politician · 1316–1374
- Magnus the Good Politician · 1024–1047
- Magnus I of Sweden Politician · 1106–1134
- Magnus VI of Norway Politician · 1238–1280
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Magnus mean?
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?
Magnus ranked #765 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 337 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Magnus?
6,172 babies have been named Magnus in the United States since 1890, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Magnus most popular?
Magnus peaked in 2021, when 354 newborns received the name.
Is Magnus a boy or girl name?
Magnus is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Magnus rising or falling?
Magnus is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Magnus?
Well-known people named Magnus include Magnus Maximus (politician), Magnus IV of Sweden (politician), Magnus the Good (politician).