Magnus

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A few things about Magnus you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.

⭐ Famous Magnus

Magnus Hirschfeld

German physician and sexologist (1868–1935)

Choose Magnus and your child shares a first name with Magnus Hirschfeld, a German physician and sexologist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Magnus, like who?” Magnus Hirschfeld's Wikipedia article is available in 54 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.

Read about Magnus Hirschfeld on Wikipedia ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons

• 👶How commonAbout 1 in every 5,068 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Magnus, 337 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Magnus would very likely be the only one.
• 📜HistoryMagnus first shows up in US birth records in 1890, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 135 years since.
• 🏆Best yearIts best year was 2017, when it reached #719.
• 📈Then vs nowMagnus is 8.3× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 41,841 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 5,068.
• 🚀TrendMagnus has climbed 37 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #763. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
• 📍Where it's lovedMagnus is most popular in North Dakota, where it ranks #226, followed by Idaho (#332) and Oregon (#351). It's in the top 1,000 in 25 states.
• 💬MeaningIn Latin, Magnus means “great”. Our records link it to Celtic and Latin roots.

About the name Magnus

Magnus is a boy name of Celtic and Latin origin meaning “great”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-nus”. US birth records list Magnus for boys from 1890 to 2025, in 96 of those 136 years. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked #719 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #763, with 337 babies.

Origin:Celtic namesLatin names