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