The nameMarcel
Marcel is a French boy's name with a vintage charm, from the Roman Marcellus.
- Boy's name
- Latin
- Feast day
Meaning
Marcel comes from Marcellus, a diminutive of Marcus, linked to Mars, the Roman god of war.
Origin
Latin, through French.
History
Marcel was a top French name around 1900. Marcel Proust and Marcel Marceau carried it abroad. In England and Wales it reached 221st place in 2018.
Did you know?
- Marcel Proust won the Prix Goncourt in 1919 for In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower.
- In 1917 Marcel Duchamp submitted a urinal, titled Fountain, to an art exhibition.
- The mime Marcel Marceau created Bip, his clown in a striped shirt and battered hat with a flower.
Famous people named Marcel
- Marcel Proust, novelist
- Marcel Marceau, mime
- Marcel Duchamp, artist
Popularity of the name Marcel
Marcel in the United States
Marcel was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 2,874 births over the decade, 14% of all recorded babies named Marcel. Its rise began around 1913, and it peaked in 2022. Half of all babies named Marcel in the United States were born before 1988, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 371 births a year on average, against 316 in the five years before.
Marcel in the United Kingdom
Marcel was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 2,296 births over the decade, 60% of all recorded babies named Marcel. Half of all babies named Marcel in the United Kingdom were born before 2015, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 124 births a year on average, against 223 in the five years before.
Marcel in Ireland
Marcel in France
Marcel in Belgium
Marcel in Switzerland
Marcel in Austria
Marcel in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Marcel
Names from the same generation as Marcel, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Marcel? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Marcel with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Marcel side by side with the name of your choice.
Marcel in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Marcel mean?
Marcel comes from Marcellus, a diminutive of Marcus, linked to Mars, the Roman god of war.
What is the origin of the name Marcel?
Latin, through French.
Is Marcel a girl's or a boy's name?
Marcel is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Marcel?
In 2024, Marcel was the 753rd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 339 births.
What are the variants of the name Marcel?
Variants and related names of Marcel include Marceline, Marcelle, Marcelline and Marcus.
What are good sibling names for Marcel?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Livia, Beatrice, Lucie and Sylvia for a sister, Vincenzo, Julien, Blaise and Emil for a brother.
Who are famous people named Marcel?
Marcel Proust, novelist; Marcel Marceau, mime; Marcel Duchamp, artist.