Marcus
Marcus is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Dedicated to Mars or warlike.
Origin and history
Marcus is a classic male given name derived from the Latin praenomen associated with Mars, the Roman god of war. It has maintained steady popularity in the United States over the past century, functioning as a timeless traditional name. Today, it remains a widely recognized choice in the U.S. top 250.
Popularity in the United States
241,657 babies in the United States have been named Marcus since 1880. It ranks #162 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #236.
States where it is most popular
- TX (10 %)
- CA (9.9 %)
- IL (5.1 %)
- NY (5 %)
- FL (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 424 |
| 1890-1900 | 405 |
| 1900-1910 | 482 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,051 |
| 1920-1930 | 3,029 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,298 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,266 |
| 1950-1960 | 8,694 |
| 1960-1970 | 14,545 |
| 1970-1980 | 39,464 |
| 1980-1990 | 51,807 |
| 1990-2000 | 46,497 |
| 2000-2010 | 35,673 |
| 2010-2019 | 24,143 |
| 2020-2029 | 8,879 |
Famous people named Marcus
- Marcus Aurelius: Emperor, Philosopher
- Marcus Allen: Athlete, Football player
- Marcus Samuelsson: Chef, Author
Nicknames
Marc, Mark
Fun facts
- Marcus was one of the most common praenomina in ancient Rome, borne by notable historical figures including emperor-philosopher Marcus Aurelius.
- Marcus has appeared continuously in the top 250 U.S. boys' names for many decades, demonstrating lasting cross-generational appeal.