What does Bjorn mean?
Bjorn means “bear” in Old Norse, a symbol of strength.
What does Magnus mean?
Magnus comes from the Latin for “great,” long popular across Scandinavia.
Bjorn vs Magnus
Which is more popular?
Magnus is more popular than Bjorn today: about 337 US babies were given the name Magnus in 2025, compared with 298 named Bjorn.
| Bjorn | Magnus | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bear | Great |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BYORN | MAG-nus |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1925 | 1890 |
| Peak year | 2024 (331) | 2021 (354) |
| In 2025 | 298 | 337 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bjorn
Magnus
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bjorn | Magnus |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,895 | 1,989 |
| 2010s | 1,229 | 2,389 |
| 2000s | 550 | 1,028 |
| 1990s | 403 | 212 |
| 1980s | 598 | 74 |
| 1970s | 397 | 30 |
| 1960s | 145 | 18 |
| 1950s | 28 | 39 |
| 1940s | 5 | 23 |
| 1930s | 0 | 66 |
| 1920s | 5 | 132 |
| 1910s | 0 | 122 |
| 1900s | 0 | 29 |
| 1890s | 0 | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bjorn or Magnus more popular?
Magnus is more popular than Bjorn today: about 337 US babies were given the name Magnus in 2025, compared with 298 named Bjorn.
What is the difference between Bjorn and Magnus?
Bjorn means Bear (Norse origin), while Magnus means Great (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Bjorn or Magnus?
In US records, Bjorn first appears in 1925 and Magnus in 1890, so Magnus has the longer recorded history.