Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Mark
BoyLatin, English· “probably dedicated to Mars”
- Meaning
- probably dedicated to Mars
- Origin
- Latin, English
- Pronunciation
- MAHRK
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #245
- US babies 2025
- 1,416
- Best rank
- #6 (1959)
- Peak year
- 1960
Meaning and origin of Mark
Mark is a Latin and English name that is usually said to mean “probably dedicated to Mars”.
Mark is the English form of the Latin Marcus, a Roman name usually thought to come from Mars, the god of war, though the link is not certain. Saint Mark the Evangelist, traditionally regarded as the author of the second Gospel, made the name important across the Christian world, and Venice adopted him as its patron, with his winged lion as the city's emblem. In Arthurian legend, King Mark of Cornwall is the uncle of Tristan. Mark was hugely popular in the mid-twentieth century and now reads as a dependable classic. It is short and strong, and it combines easily with longer middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Marc, Marque.
Popularity over time
Mark has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #6 in 1959, and the most babies received it in 1960, when 58,727 were named Mark. In 2025, 1,416 babies were named Mark, and it ranked #245 nationally. That is 32% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #219 in 1920, #23 in 1950, #30 in 1980, #79 in 2000, #162 in 2010, and #245 in 2025. Of the 1,362,176 US boys named Mark since records began, 32% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 382,589 babies. Since 2010, 29,766 more have been named Mark.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Timothy.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Mark ranked highest in Alaska, Illinois, and North Dakota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | #133 | 7 |
| Illinois | #144 | 83 |
| North Dakota | #166 | 8 |
| Louisiana | #169 | 31 |
| Washington | #174 | 50 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Mark is usually pronounced MAHRK, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with M and ends in “-rk”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Marc and Marque.
Middle names for Mark
A few middle names that flow with Mark: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Mark
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Lists that include Mark
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mark mean?
Mark is a Latin and English name that is usually said to mean “probably dedicated to Mars”.
What is the origin of the name Mark?
Mark has Latin and English roots. Mark is the English form of the Latin Marcus, a Roman name usually thought to come from Mars, the god of war, though the link is not certain.
Is Mark a popular name?
Yes. Mark ranked #245 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Mark a boy or girl name?
Mark is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Mark?
Mark is usually pronounced MAHRK. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings