What does Leif mean?
Leif means “heir” or “descendant” in Old Norse.
What does Magnus mean?
Magnus comes from the Latin for “great,” long popular across Scandinavia.
Leif vs Magnus
Which is more popular?
Magnus is more popular than Leif today: about 337 US babies were given the name Magnus in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
| Leif | Magnus | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Heir, descendant | Great |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | LAYF | MAG-nus |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1912 | 1890 |
| Peak year | 2022 (290) | 2021 (354) |
| In 2025 | 257 | 337 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Leif
Magnus
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Leif | Magnus |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,542 | 1,989 |
| 2010s | 1,971 | 2,389 |
| 2000s | 1,329 | 1,028 |
| 1990s | 878 | 212 |
| 1980s | 1,231 | 74 |
| 1970s | 1,158 | 30 |
| 1960s | 886 | 18 |
| 1950s | 442 | 39 |
| 1940s | 196 | 23 |
| 1930s | 111 | 66 |
| 1920s | 126 | 132 |
| 1910s | 127 | 122 |
| 1900s | 0 | 29 |
| 1890s | 0 | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leif or Magnus more popular?
Magnus is more popular than Leif today: about 337 US babies were given the name Magnus in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
What is the difference between Leif and Magnus?
Leif means Heir, descendant (Norse origin), while Magnus means Great (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Leif or Magnus?
In US records, Leif first appears in 1912 and Magnus in 1890, so Magnus has the longer recorded history.