Magnus

The first name Magnus, which is masculine, carries the meaning 'the Great' or 'the Significant.' It originates from the Latin word magnus, which stands for 'large, significant, strong.' In ancient Rome, Magnus was initially used as an honorary epithet for outstanding personalities.

What does the name Magnus mean?

Magnus is a masculine given name that means 'the Great' or 'the Significant.' It derives from the Latin adjective magnus, which means 'large, significant, strong.' Originally, Magnus was regarded as an ornamental epithet before it became popular as a first name. In the German-speaking world, the spread of this name was promoted by the veneration of Saint Magnus of Füssen. Additionally, Norwegian King Magnus I († 1047) significantly contributed to the name's popularity, as he supposedly received it in reference to Charlemagne (Latin Carolus Magnus). Variants of Magnus include Måns (Swedish), Mauno (Finnish), and Mogens (Danish). The female counterpart is Magna.

Where does the name Magnus come from?

The first name Magnus has its roots in Latin and Roman culture and means 'the Great' or 'the Significant.'

How do you pronounce Magnus?

The pronunciation of Magnus is powerful and two-syllable. It is generally pronounced as 'Mag-nus' [ˈmaɡnʊs]. The name begins with an open A sound, and the consonant cluster '-gn-' gives it a certain substance. The final 's' further emphasizes the sound. Magnus conveys strength and classicism, and the name has an impressive phonetic effect with Nordic weight.

When is the name day of Magnus?

The name days for Magnus are on April 16 (Magnus of Scotland), August 19 (Magnus of Trani), September 6 (Magnus of Füssen), October 6 (Magnus of Oderzo and Eraclea), and November 5 (Magnus of Milan).

Popularity

In Germany, Magnus is among the most sought-after first names. Currently, it ranks 277th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2007 when it reached 170th place. In the last ten years, the name Magnus has been given approximately 2,700 times, placing it 268th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 248th.

Nicknames & pet names

Agi / Gnu / Maeggi / Mag-Nuss / Magg / Magger / Maggi / Magi / Maginus / Magnet / Magni / Magnum / Magnüsschen / Magnüssle / Mags / Magu / Magz / Mangi / Manni / Max / Meg / Mex / Mägges / Nus / Nussi / Nüsschen / Nüssle

Famous people

• Daniel Magnus Gronau (musician from America)
• Hans Magnus Enzensberger (German poet, writer, editor, translator, and publisher)
• Jarl Magnus Riiber (Norwegian Nordic skier)
• Johann Magnus Bjarnason (Icelandic writer)
• Magnus Abelvik Rød (Norwegian handball player)
• Magnus Andersen (Norwegian football player)
• Magnus Arvidsson (footballer (Hansa Rostock))
• Magnus Asgeirsson (poet from Iceland)
• Magnus Backstedt (Swedish professional cyclist and winner of Paris-Roubaix)
• Magnus Bane (character from the book City of Bones)
• Magnus Berg (painter from Norway)
• Magnus Bergs (footballer from Iceland)
• Magnus Blöndal Johannsson (composer)
• Magnus Brynjolfsson (Icelandic skier)
• Magnus Carlsen (Norwegian chess talent)
• Magnus Celsius (Swedish astronomer)
• Magnus Chase (character from 'Magnus Chase')
• Magnus Colcord Heurlin (American artist)
• Magnus Cort Nielsen (road cyclist)
• Magnus Dahl (Norwegian handball player)