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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Magnus

107 replies

HashB · 05/05/2024 09:33

What’s your impression of this name?
My husbands reaction was, ‘but we’re not Scottish’ which threw me as it’s always sounded rather Viking to me. This is mainly the reason I haven’t thought about it too hard - I love it but to me it’s always felt a bit out there, a bit of a crazy choice that will have people giving each other side eye behind our backs.
I’ve never met one or heard of one.
Thoughts?

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VisitationRights · 06/05/2024 16:24

I can’t help but think of the guy who used to win all the strongman competitions, Magnús Ver Magnússon

TraumatisedatChristmas1986 · 06/05/2024 16:15

Absolutely fantastic.

WhamBamThankU · 06/05/2024 16:12

I know a cat called Magnus.

sweetnessandlighter · 06/05/2024 15:58

I love it. Strong, simple, distinctive.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/05/2024 15:51

It’s gorgeous imo. It does have obvious Scandi Viking vibes to me ( so yes, likely more popular in the Scots Highlands and Islands than elsewhere in the UK) - but I don’t see that as a bad thing or that it’s unusable elsewhere.

Magnus is well known - it’s just that the other Max- variants are a lot more popular for some reason. It has a serious, kind of patrician sound to me (rather than posh) which means I’d probably expect to hear the name on an older man - but it would be nice to hear on a little boy, especially with the nn Max. If Macsen is becoming more widely used in Wales, I’d expect Magnus to gradually get more popular elsewhere in the UK. “The Greatest” is a fab meaning and Max has such a friendly sound.

soscarlet · 06/05/2024 12:18

I love it. It’s on my list if I’m having another boy this time.

OllyBJolly · 06/05/2024 11:02

Great name! The ones I know (and I know a few) get called Magnie.

If you like it, OP, go for it. It will differentiate him from all of the Noahs, Olivers and Alfies he'll go to school with.

Puffinshop · 06/05/2024 10:37

It's a very plain, classic name in Iceland, I know dozens. A Magnús could be any age from 0-100. Kind of equivalent to Thomas or something. They usually go by Maggi.

I do think the English pronunciation is much harsher and uglier than the various Nordic pronunciations, but it's OK.

FlatWhite2 · 05/05/2024 18:08

I love Magnus.. also love Manus but I’ve seen negative opinions on that one too. It’s definitely not a name I would laugh at, it’s also not chavvy which is great. I would go for it

imnotsickbutimnotwell · 05/05/2024 18:07

I love it as my favourite artist is Magnus Gjoen (he was a designer for Vivienne Westwood).

BathshebaEverdene1 · 05/05/2024 18:07

I think.its quite cool.
I.have met two, both quite illustrious in fact...
This was in London. I guess they would be in their 50s or 60s now.
One of them took it as his through choice.

DramaAlpaca · 05/05/2024 18:01

I love it.

eileandubh · 05/05/2024 18:00

I like it a lot - it's unusual without being yoonique. And my first thought would be Latin, rather than Scottish or Nordic.

MyRamone · 05/05/2024 17:59

I love it - we were going to use it for dd2 if she'd been a boy, nickname Mags as I hate Gus - I used to live in the US and 'greedy Gus' is a saying there.

EthnoBotanist · 05/05/2024 17:57

I love it and nickname Gus is great too. I am surprised that some people are reacting as if it’s a strange name. I don’t think it’s that unusual. I can think of two I was at school with (London 1970s). I would assume Scottish or Scandi connections but it works fine in English as the pronunciation and spelling work. Nobody’s going to say, what?!

Toastiecroissant · 05/05/2024 17:56

I love it, wouldn’t consider it exclusively Scottish or Scandinavian

cromwell44 · 05/05/2024 17:56

Love it. For all the reasons mentioned. It’s solid but rarely used and not pretentious in the same way Roman and Greek names are (sorry to users of those names).
We have a Magnus and there were multiple other names in the class ( ahem Callum) and his name wasn’t ‘out there’ but was uncommon.
We’re not posh, probably consciously anti-posh if anything. Magnus is no Hugo or Freddie and I think has no obvious class connotations .

Traitortothecause · 05/05/2024 17:55

Yes it's Scandinavian and maybe I am biased, I just think the pronunciation is nicer sounding in Northern British Isles accents than Southern.

DisforDarkChocolate · 05/05/2024 17:50

I love it too. I had no idea it was so divisive.

TaraFl · 05/05/2024 17:48

Magnus makes me think of a horny Viking ice lolly🤷‍♀️

Chaoseverywhere · 05/05/2024 17:40

There is an Instagram one. Dear little chap - Griep Jokes’ son. He’s Icelandic it’s nice the way they pronounce but not as nice in English but that’s just my opinion

he’s often in trouble- Magnoooose!

peopleonthebusgoupanddown · 05/05/2024 17:29

I like it a lot. Would have said Swedish/nordic rather than Scottish. Probably a marmite name though

Traitortothecause · 05/05/2024 17:28

I love the name Magnus but I do think it would work better in some environments more than others. For example it would work in Scotland but if your son turns out to be short and unimposing it's a big name to live up to. If your boy doesn't turn into a masculine viking type in other words. It's on par with calling a girl Serenity or Chastity, it's a lot to live up to!

x2boys · 05/05/2024 15:33

Maybe because I'm a ceratain age it just makes me think of Magnus Magnuson
I've started so i will finish...

Berlinlover · 05/05/2024 15:12

I always thought it was an Icelandic name because of Magnus Magnusson. Not a fan of the name.

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