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Updated August 7, 2024

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Boy name origins & meanings

  • Latin : Warlike
  • Latin : Warlike; hammer; defender

What does Marcus mean and stand for?

The name Marcus is of Latin origin and means "warlike." Marcus is thought to be related to the name Mars, whom was the god of war in Roman mythology.

Syllables: 2

How Popular Is The Name Marcus

Family name origins & meanings

  • German, Dutch, French, Swedish, Danish, and Jewish (Ashkenazic) : from the Latin personal name Marcus (see Mark 1).

Famous people who gave their babies this name

What Does the Name Marcus Mean?

The name Marcus means "warlike" and has since lost some appeal due to today's more modern Mark. However, there are still many notable namesakes and the name still remains relevant.

How Popular is the Name Marcus?

Marcus is the number 228 most popular boys name in the US, according to 2021 Social Security Administration data. Since falling out of the top 100 in the early 2000s, Marcus has been on a slow trajectory downward. Nevertheless, it has still maintained a spot in the top 300 for decades.

However, it is the 12th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

Popularity of the Name Marcus in the United States

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Marcus was at its peak popularity in November 2021.

Marcus was searched for most often in the following states:

  1. Wisconsin
  2. Nebraska
  3. Minnesota
  4. Illinois
  5. Iowa

Famous People Named Marcus and Marcus in Pop Culture

Marcus was an incredibly popular name throughout Ancient Rome, with notable namesakes such as philosopher and Roman empire Marcus Aurelius, Roman politician Marcus Tullius Cicero, the wealthiest Roman of all time Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Julius Caesar's assassin Marcus Junius Brutus. Despite its slow fall in popularity, Marcus is still readily apparent in pop culture and celebrities. Modern notable namesakes include civil rights leader Marcus Mosiah Garvey, jazz composer Marcus Miller, NBA players Marcus Camby and Marcus Sloan, musician Marcus Mumford, and various NFL players including Oakland Raiders superstar Marcus Allen. The name is still relevant enough that Michael Jordan chose it for his son. Not to mention, it has appeared in MD, Divergent, The Mentalist, True Blood, White Chicks, and Twilight.

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