The nameMark
Mark is a boy's name of Latin origin, linked to Mars, the Roman god of war. The name of an evangelist, it was a top 10 name in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Boy's name
- Latin
- Feast day
Meaning
Mark comes from the Latin Marcus, usually linked to Mars, the god of war.
Origin
Latin. Saint Mark, author of the second Gospel, is the patron saint of Venice. In Arthurian legend, King Mark of Cornwall is the husband of Iseult.
History
Mark was a top 10 name in the United States from 1955, reaching sixth place, and was very popular in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s. Mark Twain chose it for his pen name.
Did you know?
- Mark Twain's pen name comes from a Mississippi riverboat call meaning "two fathoms" of water.
- Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook in 2004 from his student room at Harvard.
Famous people named Mark
- Saint Mark the Evangelist
- Mark Twain, writer (pen name)
- Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook
- Mark Rothko, painter
Popularity of the name Mark
Mark in the United States
Mark was most popular in the United States in the 1960s, with 442,728 births over the decade, 32% of all recorded babies named Mark. Its rise began around 1947, and it peaked in 1960. Half of all babies named Mark in the United States were born before 1964, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,446 births a year on average, against 1,930 in the five years before.
Mark in the United Kingdom
Mark was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 6,446 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named Mark. Half of all babies named Mark in the United Kingdom were born before 2004. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 208 births a year on average, against 250 in the five years before.
Mark in Ireland
Mark in France
Mark in Switzerland
Mark in Austria
Mark in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Mark
Names from the same generation as Mark, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Mark? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Mark with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Mark side by side with the name of your choice.
Mark in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mark mean?
Mark comes from the Latin Marcus, usually linked to Mars, the god of war.
What is the origin of the name Mark?
Latin. Saint Mark, author of the second Gospel, is the patron saint of Venice. In Arthurian legend, King Mark of Cornwall is the husband of Iseult.
Is Mark a girl's or a boy's name?
Mark is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Mark?
In 2024, Mark was the 246th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,437 births.
What are the variants of the name Mark?
Variants and related names of Mark include Marc and Markus.
What are good sibling names for Mark?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Veronica, Julia, Diana and Julie for a sister, Patrick, Paul, Francisco and Antonio for a brother.
Who are famous people named Mark?
Saint Mark the Evangelist; Mark Twain, writer (pen name); Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook; Mark Rothko, painter.