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Home › Baby Names Directory › Marquis

Marquis

♂ Boy

Pronounced mar-KEE /mɑːrˈkiː/Medium

Meaning: from the French noble title 'marquis', a rank below duke, ultimately from a Germanic word meaning 'march' or 'border territory'Medium

In 30 seconds: Marquis comes from the French noble title 'marquis', a rank just below duke, rooted in a Germanic word for a 'march' or border territory.
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Origin MediumFrench
Meaningfrom the French noble title 'marquis', a rank below duke, ultimately from a Germanic word meaning 'march' or 'border territory'
U.S. rank (2025)#1672 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births99 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1990
Total births (all-time)≈ 24,565

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199018802025

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

Behind Marquis stands an actual title of nobility, the French marquis, who historically governed a border region. That word reaches back to a Germanic term for a 'march' or frontier territory. As a given name it carries the dignity of rank without the obligations.

It appears in the variants Marques and Marquise, and its title-derived polish gives it a formal, distinguished sound.

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

Variations

MarquesMarquise

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Marquis Grissom (1967-)
    American Major League Baseball outfielder and 1995 World Series champion
  • ★Marquis Daniels (1981-)
    American NBA player for the Mavericks, Pacers and Celtics

If you like Marquis…

Marquise— a variation of Marquis carrying the same French aristocratic root
Denis— a fellow French choice
Lamar— a similarly popular pick
Antoine— a similarly popular pick
Avion— another French name

Explore names like Marquis

By themeafrican-american
By meaningRoyal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Marquis mean?

Marquis is usually explained as meaning 'march, borderland' and is most often linked with African American tradition.

How do you pronounce Marquis?

It's commonly said mar-KEE /mɑːrˈkiː/.

Is Marquis a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Marquis?

In 2024, Marquis ranked #1474 in the U.S. for boys, with 123 births recorded.

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