Marcos
Marcos was the 517th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 579 babies. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked 224th; the most babies were born in 2001 (1,415). Over the last ten years it has moved down 109 places. More babies were named Marcos in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Marcus) Origin uncertain · Latin, Etruscan
- Rank in 2025
- #517 boys, down 37 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 579boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20011,415 babies
- Total since 1880
- 53,742babies recorded
What does the name Marcos mean?
Marcos is a spelling of Marcus, pronounced the same way, so it shares Marcus's meaning and origin.
Marcus is a Latin first name, one of the most common in ancient Rome. DMNES and Wikipedia say it comes either from Mars, the Roman god of war, or from the Etruscan name Marce, whose meaning is unknown; Wiktionary gives the Mars link. Mark is the English form, from the Gospel writer. Wikipedia notes that Marcus is popular in Sweden, Norway, Italy and Germany as well as in English-speaking countries.
Mārcus (Latin, “Roman first name”)Mārs (Latin, “Mars, god of war (proposed)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Linked with the god Mars or with Etruscan Marce; neither is certain.
Related names: Mark, Marco, Markus, Marcos, Marc.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Marcus', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Mark', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wikipedia, 'Marcus (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Marcos popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 162 since 1926.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #517 | 579 |
| 2020 | #480 | 621 |
| 2010 | #312 | 1,027 |
| 2000 | #239 | 1,407 |
| 1990 | #273 | 963 |
| 1980 | #309 | 630 |
| 1970 | #427 | 367 |
| 1960 | #611 | 165 |
| 1950 | #709 | 94 |
| 1940 | #926 | 48 |
| 1930 | #1,064 | 43 |
| 1920 | #1,000 | 48 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Marcos, counting every spelling?
Marcos is a spelling of Marcus, a name family that ranked #189 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #517 for Marcos on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,064 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus | 1,341 | #258 | 7,218 |
| Marcos | 579 | #517 | 3,083 |
| Markus | 144 | #1,336 | 782 |
| Markese | — | — | 54 |
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 Marcos?
579 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Marcos (0.16 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Marcos 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 14 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Marcos.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Marcos?
About 49,900 people born in the US named Marcos are alive today, with a median age of 26; half are between 17 and 38. That makes Marcos 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.
Marcos by state
How common Marcos was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Mexico (3.9×), California (2.0×), Texas (2.0×), Arizona (1.8×), Florida (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Marcos: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Marcos, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Marcos
What does Marcos mean?
The origin of Marcus is uncertain: Linked with the god Mars or with Etruscan Marce; neither is certain.
How popular is the name Marcos?
Marcos was the 517th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 579 babies. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked 224th; the most babies were born in 2001 (1,415). Over the last ten years it has moved down 109 places. More babies were named Marcos in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Marcos a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Marcos in the US.
Where is Marcos most popular?
In 2021–2025, Marcos was most common in New Mexico (1.40 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and Texas.