How to say it
MAR · cus
ˈmɑr.kəs
Masculine
Marcus
Of Mars, warlike
What it means
The Roman name Marcus, derived from Mars, the god of war. The Latin root behind Mark, Marco, and Marcos.
Marcus was one of the handful of standard Roman first names, tied to Mars, the god of war, and worn by figures from Marcus Aurelius to Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony). It's the parent of Mark, Marc, Marco, and Marcos across Europe. The full Latin form has stayed quietly steady in the US and is especially well used in Black American families. Marc is the natural short.
How to spell Marcus
The standard spelling is Marcus. Common variants include Markus, Marcos, Marco, Marc, but Marcus is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #57 in 1984, currently #258 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Shortens to Marc; Marco and Marcos are the Italian and Spanish forms of the same root.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Marcus Aurelius Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher
- Marcus Garvey Jamaican Pan-Africanist leader
- Marcus Rashford English footballer and child-hunger campaigner
Spelling variants
- Markus
- Marcos
- Marco
- Marc
Names with the same feeling
See Marcus from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Marcus mean?
- The Roman name Marcus, derived from Mars, the god of war. The Latin root behind Mark, Marco, and Marcos.
- What does Marcus mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Marcus means "Of Mars, warlike." Marcus was one of the handful of standard Roman first names, tied to Mars, the god of war, and worn by figures from Marcus Aurelius to Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony). It's the parent of Mark, Marc, Marco, and Marcos across Europe. The full Latin form has stayed quietly steady in the US and is especially well used in Black American families. Marc is the natural short.
- How do you pronounce Marcus?
- Marcus is pronounced ˈmɑr.kəs. Say it as MAR-cus, with the stress on the "mar" syllable.
- How do you spell Marcus?
- The standard spelling is Marcus. Common spelling variants include Markus, Marcos, Marco, Marc.
- Is Marcus a boy or girl name?
- Marcus is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Marcus?
- Marcus ranked #258 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.