What does Magnus mean?
Magnus comes from the Latin for “great,” long popular across Scandinavia.
What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
Magnus vs Ivar
Which is more popular?
Magnus is more popular than Ivar today: about 337 US babies were given the name Magnus in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
| Magnus | Ivar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Great | Bow warrior |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MAG-nus | EE-var |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1890 | 1896 |
| Peak year | 2021 (354) | 2025 (133) |
| In 2025 | 337 | 133 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Magnus
Ivar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Magnus | Ivar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,989 | 668 |
| 2010s | 2,389 | 260 |
| 2000s | 1,028 | 48 |
| 1990s | 212 | 6 |
| 1980s | 74 | 10 |
| 1970s | 30 | 36 |
| 1960s | 18 | 45 |
| 1950s | 39 | 45 |
| 1940s | 23 | 33 |
| 1930s | 66 | 84 |
| 1920s | 132 | 114 |
| 1910s | 122 | 109 |
| 1900s | 29 | 5 |
| 1890s | 21 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Magnus or Ivar more popular?
Magnus is more popular than Ivar today: about 337 US babies were given the name Magnus in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
What is the difference between Magnus and Ivar?
Magnus means Great (Norse origin), while Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Magnus or Ivar?
In US records, Magnus first appears in 1890 and Ivar in 1896, so Magnus has the longer recorded history.