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Magnus

Scandinavian from Latin
"greatest"
Sophie Kihm
By Sophie Kihm
Updated Mon Jul 14 2025

Magnus Origin and Meaning

The name Magnus is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "greatest".

Magnus is a Latin name, literally meaning "greatest," that has a Scandinavian feel. It dates back to Charlemagne being called Carolus Magnus, or Charles the Great. Norwegian king Magnus I, named after Charlemagne, introduced it to his culture, and thus Magnus was the name of six early kings of Norway and four of Sweden. It is still a highly popular name in Denmark and Norway.

Magnus, a powerful name with a commanding presence, is one of the newly unearthed ancient artifacts. It was picked for their sons by Will Ferrell (whose wife Viveca Paulin is Swedish), Kristy Swanson, and Elizabeth Banks—likely credited for this name's jump into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, as one of the year's fastest-rising names. Its fashionable s ending may keep it in popular use.

Magnus has made appearances as a vampire in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and as a character in Roald Dahl's Matilda. And for an extra ego boost, in Charles Dickens's The Pickwick Papers, there's the following dialogue:

"'Magnus is my name. It's rather a good name, I think, sir.'
'A very good name, indeed,' said Mr. Pickwick."

# 749 in the US

Magnus Rank in US Top 1000

# 174 on Nameberry

Magnus Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Popularity of the name Magnus

20 Names Similar to Magnus

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Magnus.

Famous People Named Magnus

  • Magnus Johnson
    American politician
  • Magnus the Good
    King of Norway and Denmark
  • Magnus II
    King of Norway
  • Magnus Barefoot
    King of Norway
  • Magnus IV
    VI, Kings of Norway
  • Magnus I
    IV, Kings of Sweden
  • Magnus Brostrup Landstad
    Norwegian poet
  • (Sven) Magnus Øen Carlsen
    Norwegian chess champion
  • Magnus Hirschfeld
    German physician
  • Magnus Scheving
    Icelandic actor and TV producer
  • Magnús Ver Magnússon
    Icelandic strongman
  • Magnus Norman
    Swedish tennis player
  • Magnus
    ring name of Nicholas "Nick" Aldis, English pro wrestler
  • Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
    Swedish statesman and general
  • Magnus Hubert Twisleton Wykeham Fiennes
    English composer
  • Magnus Paajarvi
    Swedish hockey player
  • Pompey Magnus aka Pompey the Great
    Roman consul and general
  • Ore Magnus Lawson aka Lil' O
    American rapper
  • Magnus Wollter
    son of actor Sven Wollter
  • Magnus Jackson Diehl
    son of actor John Diehl and singer Julie Christensen
  • Magnus Paulin Ferrell (b. 2004)
    son of actor Will Ferrell
  • Magnus Hart Swanson Eisler (b. 2007)
    son of actress Kristy Swanson and skater Lloyd Eisler
  • Magnus Mitchell Handelman (b. 2012)
    son of actress Elizabeth Banks
  • Magnus Hamilton Miller (b. 2012)
    son of singer Jennifer Nettles

The name Magnus in Pop Culture

  • Magnus "Maggie"
    character in 2005 movie "Hitch"
  • Magnus Bane
    warlock in Cassandra Clare's shadowhunters chronicles
  • Magnus Martinsson
    character in the Wallander series
  • Magnus
    character in the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, Lestat's creator
  • "Magnus Powermouse
    " children's book by Dick King,Smith.
  • Dr. Magnus Honey
    Miss Honey's father and Agatha Trunchbull's brother,in,law in book/movie "Matilda"
  • Dr. Helen Magnus
    character in TV show "Sanctuary" (played by Amanda Tapping)
  • Magnus
    one of the dragon elders in game "Spyro the Dragon"
  • Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
    book series
  • Magnus the Rogue
    character in the game "Minecraft Story Mode"
  • Magnus Pórsson
    character in the Netflix Original, "Sense8"
  • Magnus Christensen
    character in Danish TV drama "Borgen"
  • Magnus Burnsides
    character in the podcast "The Adventure Zone"
  • Jonah Magnus
    character in the podcast "The Magnus Archives"

International Variations of the name Magnus

  • Mánas
    Scottish Gaelic
  • Magnuss
    Scottish Gaelic
  • Mauno
    Finnish
  • Manus
    Irish
  • Maghnus
    Irish Gaelic
  • Måns
    Swedish
  • Mogens
    Danish

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