Marcellus
Marcellus was the 1054th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 208 babies. Its best year was 1902, when it ranked 548th; the most babies were born in 2021 (351). Over the last ten years it has moved up 189 places. More babies were named Marcellus in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning little Marcus · Latin
Say it mar-SEL-us /mɑɹˈsɛləs/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,054 boys, down 313 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 208boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2021351 babies
- Total since 1880
- 9,608babies recorded
What does the name Marcellus mean?
Marcellus is a Latin name, a diminutive of Marcus, used as a family name (cognomen) in ancient Rome; Wiktionary notes it is a doublet of Marcel. Marcus itself is often connected with Mars, the god of war, though that is not certain. Marcellus was borne by Roman generals, by two popes and by several saints. In the US it has been used since 1880, and in French it gave Marcel.
Mārcellus (Latin, “diminutive of Marcus”)Mārcus (Latin, “Roman first name, perhaps from Mars”)
How sure is this? Probable. Marcus's link to Mars is likely but not certain.
Related names: Marcel, Marcelo, Marcus, Mark.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Marcellus', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Marcus', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Marcel', DMNES (Durham University)
Marcellus popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5 since 1970.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,054 | 208 |
| 2020 | #741 | 329 |
| 2010 | #1,695 | 91 |
| 2000 | #1,193 | 114 |
| 1990 | #1,024 | 107 |
| 1980 | #1,386 | 47 |
| 1970 | #821 | 98 |
| 1960 | #1,109 | 50 |
| 1950 | #1,641 | 21 |
| 1940 | #1,354 | 25 |
| 1930 | #971 | 49 |
| 1920 | #831 | 66 |
| 1910 | #746 | 17 |
| 1900 | #825 | 11 |
| 1890 | #852 | 7 |
| 1880 | #591 | 11 |
How popular is Marcellus, counting every spelling?
Marcellus is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,005 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,054 for Marcellus on its own. Together these spellings went to 208 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcellus | 208 | #1,054 | 1,403 |
| Marcelus | — | — | 25 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Marcellus?
208 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Marcellus (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Marcellus born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 40 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Marcellus.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Marcellus?
About 7,500 people born in the US named Marcellus are alive today, with a median age of 23; half are between 7 and 43. That makes Marcellus mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Marcellus by state
How common Marcellus was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Maryland (1.7×), North Carolina (1.7×), Washington (1.6×), Pennsylvania (1.6×). In 20 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Marcellus: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Marcellus, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Marcellus · Sibling names for Marcellus
Questions about the name Marcellus
What does Marcellus mean?
Marcellus means “little Marcus” (Latin origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Marcellus?
Marcellus was the 1054th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 208 babies. Its best year was 1902, when it ranked 548th; the most babies were born in 2021 (351). Over the last ten years it has moved up 189 places. More babies were named Marcellus in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Marcellus a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Marcellus in the US.
Where is Marcellus most popular?
In 2021–2025, Marcellus was most common in Maryland (0.28 per 1,000 boys), followed by North Carolina and Washington.