Marcus
Boy name · #258 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Marcus? In official American birth records, Marcus has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,341 baby boys were named Marcus, placing it at #258 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #168, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,342 boys born in 2025 was named Marcus.
The 145-year story
Marcus first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 47 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1984, when 5,996 boys were named Marcus — good for #57 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Marcus per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marcus against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marcus in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Marcus is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marcus is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marcus is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Marcus is most common in OR (1.6 per 1,000), WA (1.5 per 1,000), MS (1.5 per 1,000), MA (1.4 per 1,000), UT (1.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Marcus is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Marcus
Statistically, parents drawn to Marcus tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mario, Travis, Bryan, Justin, and Derek.
MarioTravisBryanJustinDerekVictorJoelJesse
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marcus | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,341 | #258 |
| 2024 | 1,382 | #256 |
| 2023 | 1,400 | #250 |
| 2022 | 1,479 | #235 |
| 2021 | 1,616 | #228 |
| 2020 | 1,661 | #226 |
| 2019 | 1,722 | #218 |
| 2018 | 1,901 | #209 |
| 2017 | 2,037 | #194 |
| 2016 | 2,183 | #183 |
| 2015 | 2,481 | #168 |
| 2014 | 2,620 | #157 |
| 2013 | 2,536 | #159 |
| 2012 | 2,718 | #149 |
| 2011 | 2,814 | #145 |
| 2010 | 3,131 | #130 |
| 2009 | 3,409 | #123 |
| 2008 | 3,392 | #125 |
| 2007 | 3,670 | #117 |
| 2006 | 3,813 | #112 |
| 2005 | 3,477 | #116 |
| 2004 | 3,480 | #116 |
| 2003 | 3,395 | #119 |
| 2002 | 3,544 | #106 |
| 2001 | 3,696 | #104 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Marcus?
In official American birth records, the name Marcus first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 47 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Marcus a popular boy name?
Marcus ranked #258 among boys in 2025 with 1,341 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #168.
When was the name Marcus most popular?
Marcus peaked in 1984, when 5,996 American boys received the name (ranked #57 that year). Since 1984 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marcus?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,342 newborn American boys was named Marcus. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.