Mark
Say it: MARK
BoyMeans probably linked to Mars, the Roman god of war4 letters1 syllable
#99
in Ireland (2025)
#101 with spellings combined
58
babies in 2025
#7
best rank (1974)
28,607
babies since 1964
Down 36
10-year rank change
Mark through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | #101 |
| 2024 | 60 | #95 |
| 2023 | 78 | #79 |
| 2022 | 50 | #121 |
| 2021 | 56 | #115 |
| 2020 | 68 | #92 |
| 2019 | 70 | #97 |
| 2018 | 85 | #84 |
| 2017 | 119 | #60 |
| 2016 | 98 | #72 |
| 2015 | 119 | #65 |
| 2014 | 129 | #65 |
| 2013 | 148 | #57 |
| 2012 | 175 | #48 |
| 2011 | 177 | #50 |
| 2010 | 195 | #44 |
| 2009 | 250 | #33 |
| 2008 | 254 | #33 |
| 2007 | 264 | #30 |
| 2006 | 265 | #31 |
| 2005 | 285 | #29 |
| 2004 | 316 | #27 |
| 2003 | 302 | #27 |
| 2002 | 336 | #22 |
| 2001 | 366 | #16 |
| 2000 | 351 | #18 |
| 1999 | 345 | #17 |
| 1998 | 339 | #14 |
| 1997 | 469 | #15 |
| 1996 | 445 | #16 |
| 1995 | 502 | #11 |
| 1994 | 462 | #11 |
| 1993 | 488 | #12 |
| 1992 | 555 | #11 |
| 1991 | 624 | #9 |
| 1990 | 627 | #8 |
| 1989 | 583 | #10 |
| 1988 | 729 | #8 |
| 1987 | 744 | #9 |
| 1986 | 831 | #7 |
| 1985 | 825 | #8 |
| 1984 | 858 | #8 |
| 1983 | 865 | #8 |
| 1982 | 784 | #10 |
| 1981 | 789 | #10 |
| 1980 | 814 | #10 |
| 1979 | 878 | #8 |
| 1978 | 919 | #7 |
| 1977 | 864 | #8 |
| 1976 | 916 | #7 |
| 1975 | 863 | #7 |
| 1974 | 979 | #7 |
| 1973 | 927 | #8 |
| 1972 | 824 | #8 |
| 1971 | 748 | #8 |
| 1970 | 670 | #9 |
| 1969 | 626 | #11 |
| 1968 | 601 | #12 |
| 1967 | 457 | #15 |
| 1966 | 386 | #21 |
| 1965 | 318 | #26 |
| 1964 | 279 | #28 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Mark mean?
Probably linked to Mars, the Roman god of war
English form of the Latin name Marcus, probably from Mars, the Roman god of war.
Say it right
MARK
The story of Mark
Mark is the English form of Marcus, one of the most common first names in ancient Rome. It is generally connected with Mars, the Roman god of war, though the exact link is not certain.
Its Christian use comes from Mark the Evangelist, also called John Mark, who is traditionally said to have written the second gospel. The Acts of the Apostles tells how he set out with Paul and Barnabas, and later sailed to Cyprus with Barnabas after Paul refused to take him on a second journey.
Mark was one of the defining boys’ names of 1970s and 1980s Ireland. It peaked in 1974, when 979 boys were given it and it reached number 7. It has slipped gradually since then and was number 99 on the CSO list in 2025. In Northern Ireland it was 12th as recently as 1999.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Mark (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Mark (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Mark | 58 | 28,607 |
In Northern Ireland
#237 in 2025 with 8 babies. Best rank #12 (1999); 1,751 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.