What does Magnus mean?
Magnus comes from the Latin for “great,” long popular across Scandinavia.
What does Thor mean?
Thor is the Norse god of thunder, his name meaning “thunder” itself.
Magnus vs Thor
Which is more popular?
Magnus is more popular than Thor today: about 337 US babies were given the name Magnus in 2025, compared with 44 named Thor.
| Magnus | Thor | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Great | Thunder |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MAG-nus | THOR |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1890 | 1904 |
| Peak year | 2021 (354) | 2015 (118) |
| In 2025 | 337 | 44 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Magnus
Thor
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Magnus | Thor |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,989 | 415 |
| 2010s | 2,389 | 1,026 |
| 2000s | 1,028 | 699 |
| 1990s | 212 | 498 |
| 1980s | 74 | 469 |
| 1970s | 30 | 538 |
| 1960s | 18 | 568 |
| 1950s | 39 | 208 |
| 1940s | 23 | 137 |
| 1930s | 66 | 91 |
| 1920s | 132 | 117 |
| 1910s | 122 | 86 |
| 1900s | 29 | 5 |
| 1890s | 21 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Magnus or Thor more popular?
Magnus is more popular than Thor today: about 337 US babies were given the name Magnus in 2025, compared with 44 named Thor.
What is the difference between Magnus and Thor?
Magnus means Great (Norse origin), while Thor means Thunder (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Magnus or Thor?
In US records, Magnus first appears in 1890 and Thor in 1904, so Magnus has the longer recorded history.