What does Erik mean?
Erik joins the Old Norse for “ever” or “alone” with “ruler,” “eternal ruler.”
What does Magnus mean?
Magnus comes from the Latin for “great,” long popular across Scandinavia.
Erik vs Magnus
Which is more popular?
Erik is more popular than Magnus today: about 549 US babies were given the name Erik in 2025, compared with 337 named Magnus.
| Erik | Magnus | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Eternal ruler | Great |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | EH-rik | MAG-nus |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1911 | 1890 |
| Peak year | 1980 (4,918) | 2021 (354) |
| In 2025 | 549 | 337 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Erik
Magnus
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Erik | Magnus |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,996 | 1,989 |
| 2010s | 10,506 | 2,389 |
| 2000s | 22,408 | 1,028 |
| 1990s | 33,605 | 212 |
| 1980s | 36,350 | 74 |
| 1970s | 32,094 | 30 |
| 1960s | 14,770 | 18 |
| 1950s | 2,450 | 39 |
| 1940s | 857 | 23 |
| 1930s | 232 | 66 |
| 1920s | 141 | 132 |
| 1910s | 52 | 122 |
| 1900s | 0 | 29 |
| 1890s | 0 | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Erik or Magnus more popular?
Erik is more popular than Magnus today: about 549 US babies were given the name Erik in 2025, compared with 337 named Magnus.
What is the difference between Erik and Magnus?
Erik means Eternal ruler (Norse origin), while Magnus means Great (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Erik or Magnus?
In US records, Erik first appears in 1911 and Magnus in 1890, so Magnus has the longer recorded history.