Magnus
Boy name · #765 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Magnus? In official American birth records, Magnus has been tracked continuously since 1890, giving it 135 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 337 baby boys were named Magnus, placing it at #765 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #853, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,341 boys born in 2025 was named Magnus.
The 135-year story
Magnus first appears in the Social Security records in 1890, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 354 boys were named Magnus — good for #729 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Magnus per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Magnus against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Magnus in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Magnus is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Magnus will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Magnus is most common
Geography matters for names, and Magnus is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Magnus is most common in OR (0.7 per 1,000), UT (0.6 per 1,000), WA (0.5 per 1,000), WI (0.5 per 1,000), AZ (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Magnus is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Magnus
Statistically, parents drawn to Magnus tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Yunus, Memphis, Cassius, Linus, and Caius.
YunusMemphisCassiusLinusCaiusMattiasLazarusLucius
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Magnus | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 337 | #763 |
| 2024 | 343 | #747 |
| 2023 | 338 | #763 |
| 2022 | 327 | #773 |
| 2021 | 354 | #729 |
| 2020 | 290 | #800 |
| 2019 | 299 | #779 |
| 2018 | 295 | #780 |
| 2017 | 335 | #719 |
| 2016 | 296 | #796 |
| 2015 | 263 | #853 |
| 2014 | 215 | #973 |
| 2013 | 209 | #955 |
| 2012 | 162 | #1130 |
| 2011 | 154 | #1159 |
| 2010 | 161 | #1149 |
| 2009 | 125 | #1367 |
| 2008 | 161 | #1133 |
| 2007 | 143 | #1229 |
| 2006 | 126 | #1306 |
| 2005 | 114 | #1323 |
| 2004 | 70 | #1785 |
| 2003 | 87 | #1492 |
| 2002 | 76 | #1596 |
| 2001 | 79 | #1527 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Magnus?
In official American birth records, the name Magnus first appeared in 1890 (over 135 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Magnus a popular boy name?
Magnus ranked #765 among boys in 2025 with 337 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #853.
When was the name Magnus most popular?
Magnus peaked in 2021, when 354 American boys received the name (ranked #729 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Magnus?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,341 newborn American boys was named Magnus. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.