Mario
Mario was the 438th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 721 babies. Its best year was 1980, when it ranked 102nd with 2,936 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 152 places. More babies were named Mario in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin, Italian
Say it MAR-ee-oh /ˈmɑrioʊ/
- Rank in 2025
- #438 boys, down 109 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 721boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19802,936 babies
- Total since 1880
- 152,403babies recorded
What does the name Mario mean?
Mario is the Italian and Spanish form of Marius, a Roman family name. DMNES says the origin of Marius is uncertain; it is often linked with Mars, the god of war (as in Yonge's 1884 index), or with Latin mas, maris, "male", but neither is established. In Christian use it has also been associated with Maria. Famous bearers include the video-game character Mario.
Marius (Latin, “Roman family name (origin uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES calls the origin uncertain.
Other explanations you may read: means 'of Mars'.
Related names: Marius, Mario, Mariano.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Mario', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Marius', DMNES, Durham University
- Charlotte M. Yonge, History of Christian Names, new ed. (1884), index s.v. 'Marius' (19th-century work; used for dated usage facts only), Macmillan (public domain; Internet Archive scan)
Mario popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,093 since 1917.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #438 | 721 |
| 2020 | #329 | 999 |
| 2010 | #208 | 1,708 |
| 2000 | #167 | 2,333 |
| 1990 | #119 | 2,823 |
| 1980 | #102 | 2,936 |
| 1970 | #159 | 1,898 |
| 1960 | #211 | 1,326 |
| 1950 | #246 | 746 |
| 1940 | #334 | 294 |
| 1930 | #265 | 449 |
| 1920 | #276 | 408 |
| 1910 | #379 | 47 |
| 1900 | #1,432 | 5 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Mario, counting every spelling?
Mario has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #440 for boys in 2025, against #438 on the official list, because Kason/Kasen/Casen and Mohamed/Mohammad/Mohammed and Chosen/Chozen/Chozyn move ahead once their spellings are combined.
How many kids will share the name Mario?
721 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Mario (0.20 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Mario 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 12 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Mario.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Mario?
About 127,700 people born in the US named Mario are alive today, with a median age of 36; half are between 23 and 50. That makes Mario mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
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.
Mario by state
How common Mario was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Mexico (2.3×), Arizona (2.2×), Texas (2.2×), California (1.8×), Nevada (1.7×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Minnesota, Kentucky, Mississippi.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Mario: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Mario, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Mario · Sibling names for Mario
Questions about the name Mario
What does Mario mean?
The origin of Mario is uncertain: DMNES calls the origin uncertain.
How popular is the name Mario?
Mario was the 438th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 721 babies. Its best year was 1980, when it ranked 102nd with 2,936 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 152 places. More babies were named Mario in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Mario a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Mario in the US.
Where is Mario most popular?
In 2021–2025, Mario was most common in New Mexico (1.09 per 1,000 boys), followed by Arizona and Texas.