Declining since 1985, #258 for boys today.
Popularity of Marcus since 1880
Babies named Marcus per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 424 |
| 1890s | 405 |
| 1900s | 482 |
| 1910s | 2,051 |
| 1920s | 3,029 |
| 1930s | 2,298 |
| 1940s | 3,266 |
| 1950s | 8,694 |
| 1960s | 14,545 |
| 1970s | 39,464 |
| 1980s | 51,807 |
| 1990s | 46,497 |
| 2000s | 35,673 |
| 2010s | 24,143 |
| 2020s | 8,879 |
Meaning & origin
Marcus has been in continuous use since at least 1880, when U.S. records began. It reached its highest U.S. popularity in 1984, but has been gradually falling in rank since 1985. In 2025, it ranked 258th, with an incidence of about 1 in 1,274 newborn boys. The name is most frequently given in North Dakota, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Marcus is a classic Roman name that has been consistently used across many cultures, often associated with the god of war, Mars, though its precise etymology remains debated. It offers a solid, traditional choice with a strong historical pedigree.
Marcus was a common Roman praenomen (given name). It is traditionally associated with the god Mars, and many scholars derive the name from the Latin Mavors, an older form of Mars. The name has been used in Europe since antiquity, borne by saints and rulers, and remains popular across the English-speaking world.
Where Marcus is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Marcus” around the world
Where Marcus lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
220
babies in 2024
Ireland
20
babies in 2025
New Zealand
32
babies in 2025
Quebec
42
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Marc, Mark, Marco
Sibling names for Marcus
Names that share Marcus's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Julia, Claudia, Lydia, Olivia, Sophia, Candace, Cornelia, Felicia, Karla, Kristina, Latonya, Natalie, Serena, Silvia, Doria, Felisha, Jalisa, Jameka, Janae, Jazmine, Laquita, Latisha, Latrice, Lawanda, Letisha, Lucretia, Mallorie, Markeisha, Markie, Marquita, Octavia, Portia, Regina, Sabina, Selina, Shanika, Shantel, Sharonda, Stacia, Tameka, Tamika, Tanesha, Tawana, Tianna, Calandra, Cleopatra, Deandrea, Deondra, Desarae, Diandra, Ebonie, Flavia, Jaleesa, Jamesha, Janea, Janella, Junia, Kanesha, Keandra, Kecia, Keshia, Ladawn, Lakeshia, Lashawna, Laticia, Latoyia, Latrisha, Lawanna, Marisha, Markayla, Markia, Marquetta, Marquisha, Natisha, Ronisha, Seneca, Shalonda, Shanae, Shaniece, Shantelle, Shawnta, Shenika, Sherika, Taisha, Takisha, Tamica, Taneka, Temeka, Tenisha, Terrica, Tonisha, Twanda, Tyanna, Aleeya, Alonda, Andraya, Anglia, Annissa, Artisha, Belicia, Caleah, Calysta, Camesha, Carletha, Carlisha, Carlissa, Carrissa, Catrice, Chanae, Charlisa, Chenelle, Cherrelle, Christia, Clelia, Cyntia, Dajanae, Damia, Darcia, Davetta, Deandria, Deangela, Derricka, Dewanda, Donesha, Donnisha, Druscilla, Elesha, Ericia, Erikka, Helana, Illianna, Jakara, Jalicia, Jamecia, Jameshia, Jamica, Janissa, Jasmaine, Jelisa, Jolina, Jonae, Jonisha, Julieana, Julyssa, Kariah, Karra, Keisa, Kendria, Kennisha, Kiasia, Lacrisha, Lakecia, Lanasia, Lanessa, Laquinta, Lashauna, Lashelle, Latasia, Latecia, Latishia, Latora, Latresha, Latrica, Leandrea, Leondra, Letticia, Machaela, Makisha, Mallary, Marelyn, Markeeta, Markisha, Marlisa, Marlissa, Marnee, Marquesha, Marquia, Marquitta, Martia, Martisha, Maurica, Maurissa, Mekenna, Melaina, Melenie, Melessa, Meloney, Meloni, Myria, Nakeshia, Patrisia, Philicia, Precilla, Prisca, Quianna, Quinesha, Reginae, Renesha, Roneisha, Ronesha, Roshonda, Shadonna, Shakela, Shalina, Shameeka, Shanai, Shanica, Shanteria, Sharese, Sharina, Shatavia, Shatina, Shatoria, Shatoya, Shaundra, Shauntay, Shauntel, Shawnice, Sherina, Sherria, Shondra, Shonte, Tameisha, Tameria, Tamicka, Tamora, Taria, Tashawna, Tashiana, Tashika, Tatiyanna, Teairra, Teesha, Telicia, Terica, Terrika, Teshia, Tinesha, Toccara, Tomekia, Tomica, Toyia, Trecia, Tywanna, Valena, Adrieanna, Aemilia, Agripina, Akeisha, Alycea, Antonisha, Arelia, Arnesha, Audrielle, Caria, Carlesha, Chameka, Charnice, Charnise, Chavonne, Coretta, Coriana, Curtisha, Cynthea, Dametria, Danasha, Danitra, Deasha, Denetria, Denishia, Deondria, Derica, Derrica, Deshauna, Deshonda, Devonia, Doneshia, Falecia, Felicha, Felisia, Flecia, Janeece, Jazmarie, Johnesha, Jonnae, Kamela, Kameshia, Kaniesha, Karisha, Katrenia, Kenesha, Kenita, Keoshia, Keundra, Keymani, Keyondra, Korena, Lachell, Lacole, Lacosta, Lacrystal, Ladeja, Lakendria, Lakisa, Lamanda, Laresha, Lashonta, Lataisha, Laterrica, Latrina, Leandria, Letia, Levenia, Lucilla, Maloree, Marcea, Marcena, Marcha, Maresha, Maricia, Markeya, Marlisha, Marshayla, Maurisa, Mckaylah, Melessia, Melicia, Merinda, Myrissa, Narissa, Nickia, Numa, Phelicia, Phylicia, Porscha, Raynisha, Roshawnda, Sabrinia, Shaketa, Shamieka, Shamonica, Shandrea, Shanesha, Shantay, Shantea, Shantele, Shanterria, Sharea, Sharnae, Shauntia, Shawnell, Shawntavia, Shawntee, Shawntia, Shemeika, Shemica, Shenia, Tacarra, Takeia, Tamecia, Taneika, Tanesia, Tangelia, Taquana, Taquilla, Telecia, Telena, Telina, Tenita, Terricka, Terrionna, Tiajuana, Tieshia, Tishia, Tonesha, Tonica, Tonjia, Valaria, Valicia, Vanassa, Veleria, Velicia, Vernisha, Dalicia, Damonica, Darianne, Dashauna, Diesha, Jakeya, Jeronica, Lameisha, Latiana, Livianna, Marleena, Merrissa, Montia, Rodneisha, Shanetra, Shatasha, Toneka, Accalia, Aelia, Alecea, Amarria, Amicia, Anedra, Anitria, Antwonette, Arneisha, Arneshia, Aronda, Ashawnti, Aundreya, Batina, Calisa, Cameshia, Carinna, Carlicia, Cassandr, Ceasia, Chantella, Charda, Chenae, Cheresa, Cosandra, Dalissa, Dandrea, Darneshia, Darnise, Dayannara, Delisia, Demara, Demita, Derrika, Desira, Drucella, Felcia, Gerica, Jaimarie, Jalexus, Jamonica, Janecia, Janequa, Janisa, Jasminne, Jermanie, Jermeka, Jermesha, Jheri, Juanisha, Julena, Julicia, Karlisa, Keyshawna, Kimyata, Krissia, Labrina, Labrittany, Lachrisha, Lakaisha, Lakethia, Laketra, Lakeva, Lanecia, Laronica, Larrisa, Lashika, Lashuna, Latacha, Lataysha, Lateia, Lateria, Laticha, Latiesha, Latissa, Latiya, Latonyia, Latori, Leanndra, Malonie, Maquita, Marcayla, Marchella, Marchia, Marenda, Marisah, Markala, Marshea, Marsia, Mekisha, Melainie, Melaysia, Merrisa, Mikhala, Naquisha, Onesha, Philisha, Phyllicia, Porcia, Rashanna, Reginna, Retina, Rickeya, Ronniesha, Satrina, Shacoria, Shadana, Shaday, Shakesha, Shalicia, Shalunda, Shametra, Shaneequa, Shanessa, Shanetha, Shantale, Shantaya, Shanty, Shaquayla, Shaquela, Sharetha, Sharnetta, Sharronda, Shaton, Shatonia, Shauntee, Shawndrea, Shenea, Sheronica, Shewanda, Sholonda, Shondrea, Shonika, Shuntae, Shuntay, Taccara, Tahesha, Takeesha, Takeira, Takelia, Taleshia, Talishia, Talonda, Tamerra, Tamyka, Tandrea, Tarisha, Tashianna, Teiara, Temica, Temisha, Tenicia, Tequita, Teresha, Tiawana, Tiearra, Toiya, Tomeca, Toniesha, Toniqua, Trameka, Tuwana, Tuwanna, Tyera, Tykesha, Tymika, Tyresha, Valissa, Verginia
Brothers: Julian, Lucas, Ethan, Gabriel, Alexander, Adrian, Augustus, Damon, Julius, Maximus, Terence, Tyrone, Antony, Antron, Caesar, Damion, Darion, Dedric, Demarcus, Demarkus, Demetri, Deonte, Deshaun, Jamel, Jayceon, Jerrell, Laron, Lucius, Marlon, Marquise, Quinten, Tavares, Terell, Tyree, Tyron, Anfernee, Antwone, Aundre, Bayron, Ceasar, Darious, Darrion, Dashaun, Daunte, Daveon, Deante, Dionte, Donta, Errick, Jajuan, Jamichael, Javaris, Julious, Juvenal, Keonte, Lamarr, Lucious, Marius, Markeith, Markell, Marquette, Mychal, Octavius, Sedrick, Terance, Tiberius, Tyrik, Tytus, Vergil, Aeneas, Allante, Antonius, Ceaser, Christoffer, Cordarius, Damarian, Damein, Dameion, Dareon, Davone, Davonne, Decarlos, Derrius, Dmarcus, Gaius, Gerrell, Jalan, Jamarkus, Jawon, Jaymar, Jermichael, Jontae, Jontavious, Juluis, Kendarius, Kendrell, Kentavious, Lamark, Lucan, Makell, Markee, Markis, Marshaun, Martrell, Marvens, Mykael, Ovid, Raysean, Romulus, Rondale, Tamarcus, Tarus, Tremon, Anthonee, Carlas, Cavon, Cicero, Claudis, Contrell, Corneluis, Daiquan, Damarkus, Darrelle, Darreon, Deandrew, Deiondre, Dejean, Demorris, Denarius, Deondrae, Deondray, Deundre, Diontae, Dontaye, Dvonte, Festus, Jaishawn, Jamicheal, Jaris, Jermale, Johntae, Keanthony, Keishaun, Kentavius, Ladarian, Lamarius, Laterrance, Latron, Machael, Marcellis, Marcellous, Mardy, Marinus, Markey, Markez, Marquavis, Martese, Marvyn, Mickell, Mithcell, Nero, Plato, Quintarius, Tamarius, Trajan, Travius, Tryone, Tyrae, Delvonte, Quentavious, Antavius, Anterrio, Anthone, Antwione, Cardarius, Cordarious, Dametri, Damontre, Darshawn, Davarious, Davaun, Decorey, Demarkis, Demitrus, Denario, Deontra, Dequon, Desmen, Deunta, Dimetrius, Domonik, Duante, Jahred, Jamorris, Julias, Kelven, Lacharles, Ladale, Ladonte, Lamarco, Lamarkus, Laquinton, Lemonte, Mackson, Marcquis, Mareon, Maricus, Markale, Markees, Markice, Markon, Marquie, Maruice, Omarie, Quintus, Severus, Tavaras, Tavarious, Terrius, Zerick
Names like Marcus
Names whose popularity has moved with Marcus's over the last 50 years.

