The name Marcel originated from the Roman name Marcellus, a masculine diminutive of the name Marcus. Marcus was derived from the word "mar," meaning male or masculine in the ancient Oscan language spoken in southern Italy. The name Marcellus was borne by various ancient Roman figures, including Marcus Claudius Marcellus, a famous Roman consul and general who lived from 268 to 208 BC.

Marcellus became a popular name among early Christians, who often Latinized their names. One of the earliest recorded examples is Saint Marcellus I, who served as Pope from 308 to 309 AD. Another notable bearer was Marcellus of Tangier, a Christian martyr executed in 298 AD under the Roman emperor Diocletian.

In medieval France, the name evolved into the French form Marcel. This variant gained popularity during the Middle Ages, with one of the earliest recorded examples being Marcel, a Benedictine monk and historian who lived in the 11th century. Another early bearer was Marcel, a prominent French theologian and Chancellor of the University of Paris in the 13th century.

During the Renaissance and Early Modern periods, several notable individuals bore the name Marcel. These include Marcel Lefebvre (1605-1675), a French Catholic theologian and founder of the Congregation of the Christian Doctrine, and Marcel Dancourt (1661-1725), a French playwright known for his comedies.

In the 19th century, Marcel Proust (1871-1922) was a renowned French novelist and critic, best known for his influential novel "In Search of Lost Time." Another famous bearer was Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968), a French-American artist whose works significantly influenced the development of modern art.

Other notable individuals named Marcel include Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974), a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker; Marcel Marceau (1923-2007), a French actor and mime artist; and Marcel Hirscher (born 1989), an Austrian former World Cup alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist.