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Mark

♂ Boy

Pronounced MARK /mɑːrk/High

Meaning: Of Mars; consecrated to the god of warHigh

In 30 seconds: One of the most ancient and enduring names in Western history, Mark derives from the Roman god of war. Short, strong, and unmistakable — Mark is the kind of name that never goes out of style because it never really arrived; it simply always was.
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Origin HighLatin, Hebrew
MeaningOf Mars; consecrated to the god of war
U.S. rank (2025)#245 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,416 boys (0.08% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1960
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,362,185

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196018802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Mark is the English form of the Latin Marcus, derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. Mars was one of the most important deities in the Roman pantheon, and names invoking him were considered auspicious for strength and courage. Marcus was one of the most common names in ancient Rome.

In the Christian tradition, Saint Mark the Evangelist is credited with authoring the second Gospel and was the patron saint of Venice, where the magnificent Basilica di San Marco bears his name. The name Mark has been in continuous English use since the medieval period and remains a perennial global classic.

Did you know? The Gospel of Mark is widely considered the earliest of the four canonical Gospels, written around 70 CE — making the name one of the most significant in Christian history.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Mark — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MarcusMarcoMarc

Nicknames

Marc

Famous Bearers

  • ★Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) (1835–1910)
    American author of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, widely regarded as the father of American literature.
  • ★Mark Zuckerberg (1984–present)
    American technology entrepreneur and co-founder of Facebook (Meta Platforms).

If you like Mark…

Luke— fellow single-syllable New Testament Evangelist name with the same timeless weight
John— the foundational Christian classic with the same one-syllable authority
James— biblical New Testament name with the same enduring, no-nonsense strength
Paul— single-syllable Apostolic name with the same ancient Latin-Christian heritage

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mark mean?

Mark derives from the Latin Marcus, meaning 'of Mars' or 'consecrated to the god of war.'

How do you pronounce Mark?

It is said MARK /mɑːrk/ — one syllable.

Is Mark a boy or girl name?

Mark is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Mark?

Mark has ranked in the U.S. top 200 for boys for decades and remains one of the most common names globally.