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Home › Baby Names Directory › Marek

Marek

♂ Boy

Pronounced MA-rehk /ˈma.rɛk/Medium

Meaning: Bane, ruinMedium

In 30 seconds: Marek is a Polish boy's name in the Mark family, often traced through Marcus.
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Origin MediumPolish, Czech, Slovak
MeaningBane, ruin
U.S. rank (2025)#2629 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births50 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2010
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,136

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201019562025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Marek is the Polish form of Mark, part of the wider group that includes Markus, Marcus, and Marko. It is a staple across Poland and neighboring Slavic countries, worn as an everyday classic.

Footballers Marek Hamšík of Slovakia and Marek Suchý of the Czech Republic show how firmly the name is rooted in Central Europe. The clipped two-syllable sound gives it a strong, unfussy presence.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Marek is 'bane, ruin', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Marek — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MargusMarkoMarkusMarcusMarkos

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Marek Hamšík (1987–present)
    Slovak footballer, record national team caps and captain.
  • ★Marek Suchý (1988–present)
    Czech footballer, former national team captain.

If you like Marek…

Marko— A listed Slavic variation of Marek in the same Mark family.
Markus— A variation of Marek sharing the Marcus root.
Marcus— The Latin form behind Marek's family of names.
Izaak— another Polish name
Kaspian— a fellow Polish choice

Explore names like Marek

By themepolishczech

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Marek mean?

Marek is usually explained as meaning 'bane, ruin' and is most often linked with Polish tradition.

How do you pronounce Marek?

It's commonly said MA-rehk /ˈma.rɛk/.

Is Marek a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Marek is used as a boy name.

How popular is Marek?

In 2024, Marek ranked #2488 in the U.S. for boys, with 55 births recorded.

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