Marcus
Say it: MAR-kus/ˈmɑːkəs/
Boy6 letters2 syllables
#232
in Ireland (2025)
#229 with spellings combined
20
babies in 2025
#99
best rank (1972)
1,650
babies since 1964
Down 23
10-year rank change
Marcus through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | #229 |
| 2024 | 21 | #216 |
| 2023 | 30 | #170 |
| 2022 | 23 | #215 |
| 2021 | 19 | #242 |
| 2020 | 14 | #299 |
| 2019 | 17 | #262 |
| 2018 | 23 | #230 |
| 2017 | 37 | #162 |
| 2016 | 29 | #196 |
| 2015 | 27 | #206 |
| 2014 | 35 | #175 |
| 2013 | 34 | #184 |
| 2012 | 35 | #182 |
| 2011 | 40 | #170 |
| 2010 | 36 | #178 |
| 2009 | 26 | #214 |
| 2008 | 30 | #191 |
| 2007 | 37 | #158 |
| 2006 | 37 | #144 |
| 2005 | 22 | #181 |
| 2004 | 32 | #142 |
| 2003 | 35 | #130 |
| 2002 | 20 | #174 |
| 2001 | 24 | #148 |
| 2000 | 22 | #155 |
| 1999 | 24 | #141 |
| 1998 | 16 | #162 |
| 1997 | 20 | #158 |
| 1996 | 27 | #145 |
| 1995 | 16 | #168 |
| 1994 | 22 | #149 |
| 1993 | 24 | #148 |
| 1992 | 29 | #138 |
| 1991 | 21 | #154 |
| 1990 | 23 | #152 |
| 1989 | 30 | #129 |
| 1988 | 24 | #141 |
| 1987 | 25 | #141 |
| 1986 | 22 | #146 |
| 1985 | 20 | #155 |
| 1984 | 29 | #128 |
| 1983 | 28 | #136 |
| 1982 | 10 | #205 |
| 1981 | 25 | #150 |
| 1980 | 33 | #126 |
| 1979 | 37 | #123 |
| 1978 | 24 | #144 |
| 1977 | 32 | #124 |
| 1976 | 31 | #129 |
| 1975 | 34 | #120 |
| 1974 | 38 | #116 |
| 1973 | 44 | #113 |
| 1972 | 59 | #99 |
| 1971 | 48 | #107 |
| 1970 | 33 | #111 |
| 1969 | 15 | #154 |
| 1968 | 18 | #137 |
| 1967 | 14 | #144 |
| 1966 | 10 | #159 |
| 1965 | 6 | #194 |
| 1964 | 14 | #136 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Marcus mean?
Uncertain, possibly linked to Mars, the Roman god of war
Latin, an old Roman first name, the source of Mark.
Say it right
MARkus
The story of Marcus
Marcus was one of the small set of first names used in ancient Rome, and it is the Latin form of Mark. Its meaning is not certain. It is often linked to Mars, the Roman god of war, though it may instead come from an Etruscan name whose meaning is lost.
Many Romans carried it, the emperor Marcus Aurelius among them. In older English Bibles the name also appears for a companion of Paul, usually taken to be Mark, the gospel writer.
Marcus was already in use in Ireland when the CSO records begin. It peaked in 1972, when 59 boys got the name and it reached number 99, its only year in the top 100. It has stayed remarkably steady since, and in 2025 it was number 229 once spellings are combined. In Northern Ireland its best year was 2003, at number 100.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Marcus (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Marcus (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Marcus | 20 | 1,650 |
In Northern Ireland
#270 in 2025 with 6 babies. Best rank #100 (2003); 455 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.