The baby name Magnus combines a grand meaning with a cool, current sound.
Thanks to Natalie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day, and to Sarah for requesting the update.
MAGNIFICENT
The Latin magnus means great. We know the meaning through words like magnate and magnificent. When we magnify something, we make it bigger.
It may have become a personal name, in part, through a misunderstanding.
There are two versions of the story. In the first, the future king of Norway was born weak, sometime around the year 1024. Few expected him to survive. The name Magnus was borrowed from Carolus Magnus – Charlemagne.
Many years later, that boy – born the illegitimate son of King Olaf, succeeded to the crown against the odds.
The other version of the tale says that the eleven year-old boy king sought an appropriate name to take as king. He settled on Magnus, again, inspired by Charlemagne.
Either way, the misunderstood Latin phrase filtered into use as a given name amongst European – and especially Scandinavian – royals and nobles. The current crown prince of Norway is Haakon Magnus; Haakon’s youngest child is Sverre Magnus.
MIGHTY + SAINTLY
And yet, long before that unlikely eleventh century king ascended his throne, several saints Magnus were recorded. There’s a Saint Magnus of Anagni all the way back in the second century. A second Italian Saint Magnus comes along a century later. More follow, including in what we today call France, Germany, and Scotland.
So it seems like the baby name Magnus started out as Late Latin, become a title in the era of Charles the Great, and eventually made its way back to given name status.
It’s worth noting that the Scandinavian Magni also predates Magnus. It means strength or might. In Norse mythology, Magni was Thor’s son. And yes, he shows up in Marvel Comics – though not the movies. (At least not yet.)
SCANDI FAVORITE
Thor’s son and all those royals help explain why the baby name Magnus feels distinctively Scandinavian.
Surnames Magnusson and Magnussen are heard through Sweden, Norway, and much of northern European. Magnus, too.
In physics, the Magnus Effect describes the spin on a ball in a sporting event – think golf balls and tennis balls. It’s named after German scientist Heinrich Magnus.
The baby name Magnus ranks in the current Norwegian and Danish Top 20s, too.
A few high profile figures have given the name to their children, like actor Will Ferrell and his Swedish wife, Viveca Paulin. Their boys are Magnus, Mattias, and Axel.
BY THE NUMBERS
If the baby name Magnus feels like a staple in much of Scandinavia, how has it fared in the US?
For much of the twentieth century, the baby name Magnus remained rare – if not quite unknown. As of 1999, just 48 boys received the name – an all-time high.
But it has climbed slowly in recent years. A male Magnus – nicknamed Maggie – appeared in 2005 Will Smith flick Hitch. YA series The Mortal Instruments gives us a warlock named Magnus Bane. And Rick Riordan, known as the creator of the long-running Percy Jackson series, is also the author of a series about the son of a Norse god. His name? Magnus Chase.
The name debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2013 at #958. As of 2019, it stands at #781.
It makes sense. Magnus sits the intersection of so many trends: ancient names for our sons like Orion, big and bold ones like Maverick, and s-enders like Atticus and Wells. It’s also a potential formal name for Gus, just like current favorite August.
With history to spare and a strong meaning, the baby name Magnus feels like the best of several categories of name. It’s historic, heroic, and yet perfectly wearable, too.
What do you think of the baby name Magnus?
First published August 26, 2008, this post was revised substantially and re-published on February 18, 2021.
I live in Denmark, and here the name Magnus is pronounced ‘Mownus’, as the letter ‘g’ in Danish is usually soft/silent.
It’s a very popular name here too!
We were going back and forth between Severin, August and Magnus. After an emergency c-section he came out kicking, screaming and completely not a Severin or August, so Magnus it was and Magnus he is.
My husband ad I named our son Magnus James and it fits him perfectly! I LOVE the name Magnus! So strong, sophisticated and (to us) intellectual!
I’ve got Scandinavian relatives that spell is Magnes instead of Magnus. I’ve also heard of Magnus being shortened to “Mags”.
Magnus is a nice name, but I feel it is kind of a big name for a child to live up to. It’s cute and classy, I just probably wouldn’t use it. I have nothing against it though. I love Will Ferrell and I really love his 2nd son’s name Mattias too. Magnus and Mattias make good sibling names, even though I usually hate siblings having names that start with the same letter. I don’t think Magnus fits with my surname either, but I do like it.
I am thoroughly charmed by Magnus. But then, I’m a sucker for any boys name that can potentially have a girly nickname. 😀
I love his history, strength, warmth and charm. What’s not to love?
His assocations are pretty cool too; the Magnus Effect? the other half plays golf so he prbably knows about it but it’s news to me! Sounds like a cool term for a new magic trick! I like his cognate too. Magnus the Magnificent! (sounds like the name of the magician who performs “The Magnus Effect”). [sorry for the geekout]
Despite my dislike for Will Ferrell, he’s got two of the nicest named boys in Hollywood: Magnus and Mattias. (an aside, did you know that Will Ferrell is really John William Ferrell?)
Of course, he sounds fairly ridiculous with my surname (never mind the alliteration, I dislike alliteration) so he’s not for me *sigh*. I would love to meet a handful of them! Magnus is awesome!