Fun Facts About the Name Marcus
- An established favorite: Marcus held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 31 consecutive years, from 1970 through 2000.
- More than 242 thousand babies named Marcus: U.S. records list 242,983 babies given the name Marcus from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,342 girls received the name Marcus - about 1 girl for every 180 boys.
What Does the Name Marcus Mean?
Marcus is a Latin praenomen, or personal given name, traditionally connected with Mars, the Roman god of war. Its customary meaning is "warlike" or "dedicated to Mars." The name is usually explained as related to the god's name, but the ultimate origin of Mars itself is not certain. An ancient etymology linked Mars to Latin mas (genitive maris), "male," but that explanation is disputed and not securely established. The familiar meaning therefore rests on the god's association rather than on a fully known literal sense.
Marcus Name History & Origins
Marcus was one of the standard praenomina of ancient Rome, the personal name placed first in the three-part Roman name. It was common in the Roman Republic and Empire and was often abbreviated M. in inscriptions and manuscripts. Well-known bearers include Marcus Tullius Cicero, Marcus Porcius Cato, Marcus Junius Brutus, Marcus Antonius, and the emperor Marcus Aurelius. Its use cut across many Roman families rather than belonging to a single clan.
In early Christian usage, Marcus is the Latin form of the name of Saint Mark the Evangelist, whom the New Testament calls Μᾶρκος (Markos) in Greek and whose Jewish name was John (Acts 12:12). The Latin Bible and later Christian writings call him Marcus. Through his association with the Gospel of Mark, the name was taken up by Christians in the Latin-speaking world and beyond. A later bearer was Pope Mark (Marcus), bishop of Rome in the 4th century.
From Latin, the name passed into the vernacular languages of Europe. Italian has Marco, Spanish and Portuguese have Marcos, French has Marc, and German has Markus; English has both Mark, the vernacular form, and Marcus, the Latin form. These are cognates of the same original name, though their later histories differ.
How Popular is the Name Marcus?
Marcus remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1970 to 2000. Its highest annual birth count was in 1984, and people born that year turn 42 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #16,831 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #17,495 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #17,890 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #18,575 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #18,822 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #19,409 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #19,441 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #5,685 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2003 | #13,316 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #17,137 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #10,675 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #7,423 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #6,724 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #13,488 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #9,513 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #7,915 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #6,891 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #6,528 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #6,891 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #5,186 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #7,230 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #3,483 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1989 | #2,966 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1988 | #2,624 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1987 | #2,009 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1986 | #1,761 | 66 | 0.0038% |
| 1985 | #1,750 | 65 | 0.0038% |
| 1984 | #1,718 | 64 | 0.0038% |
| 1983 | #1,656 | 67 | 0.0040% |
| 1982 | #2,623 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1981 | #2,430 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1980 | #2,233 | 45 | 0.0027% |
| 1979 | #2,171 | 46 | 0.0029% |
| 1978 | #2,174 | 43 | 0.0028% |
| 1977 | #2,325 | 39 | 0.0025% |
| 1976 | #2,464 | 33 | 0.0023% |
| 1975 | #2,040 | 43 | 0.0029% |
| 1974 | #2,159 | 38 | 0.0026% |
| 1973 | #2,483 | 30 | 0.0021% |
| 1972 | #2,339 | 32 | 0.0021% |
| 1971 | #2,023 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1970 | #2,488 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1969 | #3,269 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1968 | #3,125 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1967 | #3,583 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #3,862 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #4,701 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #4,531 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #3,940 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #7,175 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #4,428 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #6,119 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,870 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #5,222 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #4,426 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #6,531 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1954 | #5,513 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #4,860 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #6,086 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #4,578 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #5,004 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #4,674 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1936 | #4,613 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #4,119 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #4,753 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #4,286 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #4,855 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #5,029 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #258 | 1,341 | 0.0785% |
| 2024 | #256 | 1,376 | 0.0802% |
| 2023 | #249 | 1,398 | 0.0818% |
| 2022 | #235 | 1,478 | 0.0847% |
| 2021 | #228 | 1,616 | 0.0924% |
| 2020 | #226 | 1,659 | 0.0962% |
| 2019 | #218 | 1,721 | 0.0960% |
| 2018 | #209 | 1,900 | 0.1047% |
| 2017 | #194 | 2,036 | 0.1100% |
| 2016 | #183 | 2,182 | 0.1150% |
| 2015 | #168 | 2,479 | 0.1294% |
| 2014 | #157 | 2,618 | 0.1363% |
| 2013 | #159 | 2,534 | 0.1340% |
| 2012 | #149 | 2,718 | 0.1433% |
| 2011 | #145 | 2,814 | 0.1482% |
| 2010 | #130 | 3,131 | 0.1632% |
| 2009 | #123 | 3,408 | 0.1718% |
| 2008 | #125 | 3,392 | 0.1663% |
| 2007 | #117 | 3,670 | 0.1768% |
| 2006 | #112 | 3,812 | 0.1855% |
| 2005 | #116 | 3,476 | 0.1740% |
| 2004 | #116 | 3,480 | 0.1753% |
| 2003 | #119 | 3,395 | 0.1719% |
| 2002 | #106 | 3,544 | 0.1825% |
| 2001 | #104 | 3,696 | 0.1902% |
| 2000 | #99 | 3,797 | 0.1933% |
| 1999 | #98 | 3,867 | 0.2014% |
| 1998 | #96 | 4,015 | 0.2101% |
| 1997 | #93 | 4,182 | 0.2218% |
| 1996 | #87 | 4,547 | 0.2400% |
| 1995 | #81 | 4,648 | 0.2442% |
| 1994 | #75 | 5,257 | 0.2721% |
| 1993 | #74 | 5,063 | 0.2582% |
| 1992 | #82 | 4,545 | 0.2275% |
| 1991 | #76 | 5,069 | 0.2509% |
| 1990 | #72 | 5,303 | 0.2582% |
| 1989 | #67 | 5,395 | 0.2696% |
| 1988 | #66 | 5,207 | 0.2720% |
| 1987 | #67 | 4,950 | 0.2651% |
| 1986 | #63 | 5,279 | 0.2867% |
| 1985 | #61 | 5,586 | 0.3022% |
| 1984 | #57 | 5,996 | 0.3322% |
| 1983 | #58 | 5,638 | 0.3145% |
| 1982 | #63 | 4,988 | 0.2749% |
| 1981 | #67 | 4,509 | 0.2517% |
| 1980 | #71 | 4,262 | 0.2389% |
| 1979 | #76 | 4,049 | 0.2352% |
| 1978 | #70 | 3,996 | 0.2434% |
| 1977 | #72 | 3,847 | 0.2341% |
| 1976 | #74 | 3,680 | 0.2345% |
| 1975 | #67 | 3,971 | 0.2543% |
| 1974 | #73 | 3,802 | 0.2418% |
| 1973 | #72 | 3,715 | 0.2383% |
| 1972 | #71 | 3,685 | 0.2272% |
| 1971 | #65 | 4,409 | 0.2493% |
| 1970 | #71 | 4,315 | 0.2322% |
| 1969 | #138 | 2,213 | 0.1237% |
| 1968 | #174 | 1,538 | 0.0885% |
| 1967 | #176 | 1,473 | 0.0845% |
| 1966 | #194 | 1,266 | 0.0710% |
| 1965 | #184 | 1,373 | 0.0738% |
| 1964 | #207 | 1,352 | 0.0678% |
| 1963 | #212 | 1,322 | 0.0651% |
| 1962 | #208 | 1,372 | 0.0663% |
| 1961 | #214 | 1,311 | 0.0617% |
| 1960 | #210 | 1,326 | 0.0622% |
| 1959 | #226 | 1,208 | 0.0566% |
| 1958 | #251 | 983 | 0.0463% |
| 1957 | #240 | 1,036 | 0.0480% |
| 1956 | #225 | 1,063 | 0.0503% |
| 1955 | #228 | 974 | 0.0473% |
| 1954 | #235 | 897 | 0.0440% |
| 1953 | #257 | 725 | 0.0368% |
| 1952 | #263 | 676 | 0.0348% |
| 1951 | #284 | 576 | 0.0306% |
| 1950 | #283 | 556 | 0.0311% |
| 1949 | #315 | 464 | 0.0262% |
| 1948 | #333 | 406 | 0.0231% |
| 1947 | #344 | 392 | 0.0214% |
| 1946 | #332 | 382 | 0.0235% |
| 1945 | #355 | 280 | 0.0208% |
| 1944 | #361 | 277 | 0.0203% |
| 1943 | #366 | 282 | 0.0198% |
| 1942 | #371 | 268 | 0.0194% |
| 1941 | #358 | 265 | 0.0216% |
| 1940 | #363 | 250 | 0.0216% |
| 1939 | #377 | 226 | 0.0204% |
| 1938 | #375 | 224 | 0.0202% |
| 1937 | #359 | 226 | 0.0212% |
| 1936 | #382 | 207 | 0.0200% |
| 1935 | #361 | 226 | 0.0217% |
| 1934 | #361 | 226 | 0.0219% |
| 1933 | #349 | 239 | 0.0241% |
| 1932 | #377 | 222 | 0.0213% |
| 1931 | #374 | 225 | 0.0216% |
| 1930 | #334 | 277 | 0.0252% |
| 1929 | #360 | 248 | 0.0231% |
| 1928 | #364 | 256 | 0.0231% |
| 1927 | #350 | 279 | 0.0248% |
| 1926 | #325 | 310 | 0.0279% |
| 1925 | #325 | 312 | 0.0280% |
| 1924 | #317 | 333 | 0.0294% |
| 1923 | #326 | 320 | 0.0292% |
| 1922 | #343 | 297 | 0.0273% |
| 1921 | #305 | 353 | 0.0320% |
| 1920 | #326 | 321 | 0.0302% |
| 1919 | #333 | 287 | 0.0293% |
| 1918 | #349 | 273 | 0.0269% |
| 1917 | #322 | 283 | 0.0306% |
| 1916 | #312 | 278 | 0.0312% |
| 1915 | #283 | 307 | 0.0362% |
| 1914 | #332 | 192 | 0.0293% |
| 1913 | #304 | 172 | 0.0336% |
| 1912 | #328 | 132 | 0.0307% |
| 1911 | #341 | 64 | 0.0283% |
| 1910 | #314 | 63 | 0.0324% |
| 1909 | #330 | 49 | 0.0299% |
| 1908 | #309 | 51 | 0.0330% |
| 1907 | #316 | 46 | 0.0313% |
| 1906 | #253 | 61 | 0.0458% |
| 1905 | #272 | 53 | 0.0401% |
| 1904 | #305 | 42 | 0.0328% |
| 1903 | #285 | 44 | 0.0369% |
| 1902 | #286 | 44 | 0.0359% |
| 1901 | #262 | 44 | 0.0413% |
| 1900 | #303 | 48 | 0.0319% |
| 1899 | #249 | 46 | 0.0433% |
| 1898 | #271 | 44 | 0.0359% |
| 1897 | #297 | 38 | 0.0337% |
| 1896 | #299 | 39 | 0.0326% |
| 1895 | #302 | 36 | 0.0307% |
| 1894 | #259 | 46 | 0.0397% |
| 1893 | #245 | 51 | 0.0454% |
| 1892 | #272 | 44 | 0.0361% |
| 1891 | #321 | 28 | 0.0277% |
| 1890 | #301 | 33 | 0.0297% |
| 1889 | #272 | 38 | 0.0344% |
| 1888 | #258 | 47 | 0.0389% |
| 1887 | #349 | 23 | 0.0227% |
| 1886 | #273 | 39 | 0.0352% |
| 1885 | #250 | 44 | 0.0408% |
| 1884 | #220 | 57 | 0.0498% |
| 1883 | #271 | 38 | 0.0363% |
| 1882 | #253 | 46 | 0.0405% |
| 1881 | #227 | 45 | 0.0447% |
| 1880 | #242 | 47 | 0.0425% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Marcus
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Marcus Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Marcus's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Marcus's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.