What does Magnus mean?
Magnus comes from the Latin for “great,” long popular across Scandinavia.
What does Odin mean?
Odin is the chief Norse god; the name is linked to “frenzy,” “fury” and “inspiration.”
Magnus vs Odin
Which is more popular?
Odin is more popular than Magnus today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 337 named Magnus.
| Magnus | Odin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Great | Frenzy, inspiration |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MAG-nus | OH-din |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1890 | 1884 |
| Peak year | 2021 (354) | 2022 (1,023) |
| In 2025 | 337 | 604 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Magnus
Odin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Magnus | Odin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,989 | 5,176 |
| 2010s | 2,389 | 6,435 |
| 2000s | 1,028 | 1,209 |
| 1990s | 212 | 118 |
| 1980s | 74 | 67 |
| 1970s | 30 | 66 |
| 1960s | 18 | 18 |
| 1950s | 39 | 0 |
| 1940s | 23 | 11 |
| 1930s | 66 | 12 |
| 1920s | 132 | 66 |
| 1910s | 122 | 88 |
| 1900s | 29 | 10 |
| 1890s | 21 | 0 |
| 1880s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Magnus or Odin more popular?
Odin is more popular than Magnus today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 337 named Magnus.
What is the difference between Magnus and Odin?
Magnus means Great (Norse origin), while Odin means Frenzy, inspiration (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Magnus or Odin?
In US records, Magnus first appears in 1890 and Odin in 1884, so Odin has the longer recorded history.