Marco
Marco was the 370th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 862 babies. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked 174th; the most babies were born in 2005 (2,117). Over the last ten years it has moved down 50 places. More babies were named Marco in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin, Italian
Say it MAR-koh /ˈmɑrkoʊ/
- Rank in 2025
- #370 boys, up 23 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 862boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20052,117 babies
- Total since 1880
- 76,917babies recorded
What does the name Marco mean?
Marco is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Mark, from Latin Marcus. DMNES says Marcus came either from Mars, the Roman god of war, or from an Etruscan name Marce of unknown meaning. Saint Mark the Evangelist is the patron of Venice, and the Venetian traveler Marco Polo is a famous bearer.
Marcus (Latin, “Roman first name (perhaps from Mars)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES gives two possible origins for Marcus.
Related names: Mark, Marcus, Marcos, Marc.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Marco', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Mark', DMNES, Durham University
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Marco popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 339 since 1939.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #370 | 862 |
| 2020 | #393 | 786 |
| 2010 | #264 | 1,312 |
| 2000 | #181 | 2,027 |
| 1990 | #226 | 1,342 |
| 1980 | #233 | 1,010 |
| 1970 | #293 | 707 |
| 1960 | #550 | 205 |
| 1950 | #770 | 80 |
| 1940 | #1,148 | 34 |
| 1930 | #938 | 52 |
| 1920 | #999 | 48 |
| 1910 | #1,759 | 5 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Marco, counting every spelling?
Marco is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #358 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #370 for Marco on its own. Together these spellings went to 934 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marco | 862 | #370 | 4,205 |
| Marko | 72 | #2,069 | 366 |
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 Marco?
862 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Marco (0.24 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Marco 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 10 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Marco.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Marco?
About 71,700 people born in the US named Marco are alive today, with a median age of 27; half are between 18 and 39. That makes Marco mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Marco by state
How common Marco was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Connecticut (2.0×), Texas (1.8×), New Jersey (1.7×), California (1.7×), Arizona (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Iowa, South Carolina, Louisiana.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Marco: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Marco, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Marco · Sibling names for Marco
Questions about the name Marco
What does Marco mean?
The origin of Marco is uncertain: DMNES gives two possible origins for Marcus.
How popular is the name Marco?
Marco was the 370th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 862 babies. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked 174th; the most babies were born in 2005 (2,117). Over the last ten years it has moved down 50 places. More babies were named Marco in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Marco a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Marco in the US.
Where is Marco most popular?
In 2021–2025, Marco was most common in Connecticut (0.97 per 1,000 boys), followed by Texas and New Jersey.