MallowbyNames

Marcus

MAR-kus · A Roman name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from Mars, the Roman god of war.

2025 rank (boys)
#258
Babies named in 2025
1,341
Peak popularity
1984
2025 frequency
1 in 1,274 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Declining since 1985

Declining since 1985, #258 for boys today.

Popularity of Marcus since 1880

Babies named Marcus per year in U.S. Social Security records.

2k4k6k1880192019602000Most births 1984Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1880s424
1890s405
1900s482
1910s2,051
1920s3,029
1930s2,298
1940s3,266
1950s8,694
1960s14,545
1970s39,464
1980s51,807
1990s46,497
2000s35,673
2010s24,143
2020s8,879

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.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few 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

Variants: Mark, Marc, Marco, Marcel

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.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

M is for Marcus, our favorite little boy.

M is for Marcus…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Marcus's letter becomes Marcus's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Marcus's book

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Questions parents ask

What does Marcus mean?
Marcus is a Latin name of uncertain meaning, but it is traditionally linked to the Roman god Mars, giving it a connotation of war or strength.
How popular is Marcus today?
In 2025, Marcus ranked 258th with about 1 in 1,274 newborn boys receiving the name. It peaked in popularity in 1984.
Is Marcus a boy or girl name?
Marcus is almost exclusively used as a boy's name.