How to say it
MAR · i · o
ˈmɑːr.i.oʊ
Masculine
Mario
Of Mars, or the sea
What it means
The Italian and Spanish form of the Roman Marius, linked to Mars, the god of war (or to mare, 'sea').
Mario is the Italian and Spanish form of the old Roman family name Marius, usually connected to Mars, the god of war, though some tie it to mare, 'sea.' It is enormously popular across Italy and Latin America, and globally famous as Nintendo's mustachioed plumber. It belongs to the broad Marius and Marcus family. Steady, warm, and instantly recognizable.
How to spell Mario
The standard spelling is Mario. Common variants include Marius, Marió, Mariano, but Mario is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #102 in 1980, currently #438 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
- Pop culture
Nintendo's Super Mario; racing's Mario Andretti.
- Worth knowing
Relation to Marius/Marcus; common across Italian and Latino communities.
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.
- Mario Nintendo's flagship character, the plumber of the Mushroom Kingdom
- Mario Andretti Italian-American racing legend
Spelling variants
- Marius
- Marió
- Mariano
Names with the same feeling
See Mario from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Mario mean?
- The Italian and Spanish form of the Roman Marius, linked to Mars, the god of war (or to mare, 'sea').
- What does Mario mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Mario means "Of Mars, or the sea." Mario is the Italian and Spanish form of the old Roman family name Marius, usually connected to Mars, the god of war, though some tie it to mare, 'sea.' It is enormously popular across Italy and Latin America, and globally famous as Nintendo's mustachioed plumber. It belongs to the broad Marius and Marcus family. Steady, warm, and instantly recognizable.
- How do you pronounce Mario?
- Mario is pronounced ˈmɑːr.i.oʊ. Say it as MAR-i-o, with the stress on the "mar" syllable.
- How do you spell Mario?
- The standard spelling is Mario. Common spelling variants include Marius, Marió, Mariano.
- Is Mario a boy or girl name?
- Mario is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Mario?
- Mario ranked #438 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.