Boy name · Latin
Marcus
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: of MarsMarcus is a boy's name that comes from Latin and means "of Mars". It is used in English, German, Scandinavian and Dutch.
- Meaning
- Of Mars
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #258 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Marcus
As a boy's name, Marcus comes from Latin and means "of Mars". It is used in English, German, Scandinavian and Dutch.
Marcus is also a surname: the 2,096th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 16,763 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Marcus on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Marcus on 1 list.
“Of Mars; Latin. Mark Antony's first name, and Cicero's”
From Roman names, roman male names: the praenomina
How popular is Marcus?
- US rank in 2025
- #258
- 1,341 babies, 785 per million boys
- Best rank
- #57 in 1984
- 5,996 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 241,657
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 387 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 355 per million |
| 1900s | 355 per million |
| 1910s | 307 per million |
| 1920s | 275 per million |
| 1930s | 217 per million |
| 1940s | 219 per million |
| 1950s | 430 per million |
| 1960s | 755 per million |
| 1970s | 2,389 per million |
| 1980s | 2,807 per million |
| 1990s | 2,387 per million |
| 2000s | 1,787 per million |
| 2010s | 1,284 per million |
| 2020s | 857 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #183 | #194 | #209 | #218 | #226 | #228 | #235 | #250 | #256 | #258 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Marcus
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Marcus
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- MarkusGerman form of Marcus (Latin, boy)
- MagnusThe great (Latin, boy)
- MarinusOf the sea (Latin, boy)
- MaruRidge, summit, a native Korean word (Korean, boy)
- MateusGift of God (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- MartinDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- MartinaDedicated to Mars (Latin, girl)
- MarcellaOf Mars (Latin, girl)
- MartineDedicated to Mars (Latin, girl)
- GianmarcoGod is gracious and of Mars (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
- Juan MartínGod is gracious, dedicated to Mars (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
- MaartenDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- MarcelaLittle Marcus, of Mars (Latin, girl)
- MarcelinaLittle Marcus, of Mars (Latin, girl)
- MarceloLittle Marcus, of Mars (Latin, boy)
- MarciaOf Mars (Latin, girl)
- MartíDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- MartimDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- MartinoDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- MartynaDedicated to Mars (Latin, girl)
Middle names for Marcus
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Latin
- LeoA lion (Latin, boy)
- MaxThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- AdrianFrom Hadria (Latin, boy)
- FelixLucky, happy (Latin, boy)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- AugustExalted, venerable (Latin, boy)
- PatrickNobleman, patrician (Latin, boy)
- VictorThe conqueror (Latin, boy)
- VincentConquering one (Latin, boy)
- CelestinoHeavenly (Latin, boy)
- ClemensMerciful (Latin, boy)
- ConstantineConstant, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- DanteEnduring, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- EmilianoRival, striving to equal (Latin, boy)
- FlorianFlourishing, blossoming (Latin, boy)
- JulianFrom the Roman name Julianus, from the family name Julius (Latin, boy)
- LucianoLight, brightness (Latin, boy)
- RenatoBorn again (Latin, boy)
Marcus: common questions
What does the name Marcus mean?
Marcus comes from Latin and means "of Mars".
Is Marcus a boy or girl name?
Marcus is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Marcus come from?
Marcus comes from Latin and means "of Mars". Today it is used in English, German, Scandinavian and Dutch.
How popular is the name Marcus?
Marcus ranked #258 in the US in 2025, with 1,341 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Marcus?
Forms of Marcus with the same meaning and origin include Máirtín (Irish), Marcel (Polish), Marcial (Spanish), Marcin (Polish) and Marco (Italian).
What middle names go with Marcus?
Middle names that flow well with Marcus include Beau, Cedar, Dale, Drake and Finn. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.