Mark Name Meaning

Mark is a traditionally masculine name that means “consecrated to the god Mars.” It is derived from the Latin name Mart-kos. Mark has also been thought to mean “god of war” and “warlike.” Mark is a common biblical name, popularized by Mark, the evangelist who authored the second Gospel in the New Testament of the Bible. St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice. 

Mark became a popular name in English-speaking regions in the 19th century. The author Mark Twain, who was born Samuel Clemens, is thought to have contributed to the popularity of the name. Mark Twain got his pen name from a term used by riverboat workers on the Mississippi River. 

One of the most famous Marks is Mark Anthony, a Roman officer who was a partner of Queen Cleopatra. He was also a character in Shakespeare’s “Anthony and Cleopatra.” Mark is also featured in the Celtic legend of Tristan and Isolde where he was the King of Cornwall.

How Popular Is the Name Mark? 

Mark is not nearly as popular as it used to be. According to 2020 data from the Social Security Administration, Mark is the 235th most popular name for boys in the United States. Mark was most popular in 1964; 45,268 babies were named Mark in that year, and the name ranked 6th.

Between 1955 and 1970 it stayed on the top 10 list of most popular names for boys. The name hasn’t experienced that sort of popularity since then. It dropped out of the top 100 in 2003 and has continued to decline in usage. 

Name Variations 

Mark has several variations in other languages and cultures. Some of the most popular of them include: 

• Marc (Catalan, French, Welsh) 
• Marcas (Irish) 
• Marco (Dutch, Italian) 
• Margh (Cornish) 
• Margus (Estonian) 
• Marko (Ukrainian) 
• Marcus (English, Danish) 
• Marek (Estonian)
• Markas (Lithuanian) 
• Markku (Finnish) 
• Markuss (Latvian)
• Marquinhos (Portuguese) 

Similar Names

If you like the name Mark, you might also like other biblical names. Consider these while making your baby-naming decision:

• Abraham 
• Adam 
• Amos 
• Bartholomew 
• Caleb 
• Daniel 
• Elijah 
• Ezra 
• Gabriel 
• Isaac 
• Jacob 
• James
• John
• Matthew 
• Michael 
• Peter 
• Samuel 
• Solomon 
• Timothy 
• Zachary 

Suggested Sibling Names 

If you’ve decided on the name Mark and are wondering what sibling names would go well with it, here are some popular options:

• Abigail
• Anna
• Chloe
• Delilah
• Elizabeth
• Eve
• Gideon
• Joshua 
• Joseph 
• Mary 
• Nathan
• Noah 
• Philip 
• Rachel 
• Rebecca 
• Seth
• Stephen 
• Susanna
• Thomas 

Famous People Named Mark    

Mark is a popular name across many regions in the world. Numerous famous and influential people have been named Mark. If you are thinking of naming your child Mark, here are some famous people who would also be sharing the name with them.

• Mark Bellhorn, American baseball player 
• Mark Cuban, American entrepreneur 
• Mark DeRosa, American baseball player 
• Mark Hamill, American actor 
• Mark Harmon, American actor, director, and producer 
• Mark Henry, American weightlifter, and professional wrestler 
• Mark Gatiss, English actor and comedian 
• Mark Jansen, Dutch guitarist, and songwriter 
• Mark Lanegan, American musician and lead singer of the band Screaming Trees 
• Mark Lenard, American actor famous for his role as Sarek in "Star Trek" 
• Mark Lynas, British author and journalist 
• Mark McGrath, lead singer of the American rock band Sugar Ray 
• Mark Pellegrino, American actor 
• Mark Ruffalo, American actor famous for his role as the Hulk in the Marvel Universe 
• Mark Oliphant, Australian physicist and humanitarian 
• Mark Steel, English comedian, broadcaster, and author 
• Mark Wahlberg, American actor and former musician 
• Mark Zakharov, Russian director and screenwriter
• Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook