Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Latin of mostly Scottish and Scandinavian usage.
Magnus is a boy's baby name of Latin origin, from the Latin magnus meaning 'great' or 'large.' It was brought to Scotland by Norwegian Vikings and became a royal name across Scandinavia — Saint Magnus, patron saint of Orkney, was a Norse earl martyred in 1117. It has been used continuously in Scotland and Scandinavia since.
Magnus carries the full weight of its Latin meaning: greatness. Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen — the Norwegian world champion — has made the name synonymous with intellectual dominance. It is one of those names that seems almost impossibly grand yet feels completely natural when worn by the right person.