Find out how popular the first name Mark has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Mark by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Mark is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Mark being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,386 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Mark.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Mark in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Mark

The name Mark has its origins in ancient Rome, derived from the Latin name Marcus. This name is believed to have been derived from the Roman god Mars, the god of war. Mars was a significant deity in Roman mythology, and the name Marcus was likely chosen to honor him.

The name Mark has been in use for over two millennia, with records of its use dating back to the 1st century AD. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Mark the Evangelist, one of the four Gospel writers in the New Testament of the Bible. He is believed to have lived in the first century AD and was a companion of the apostles Peter and Paul.

Another famous bearer of the name Mark was the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled from 161 to 180 AD. He was a Stoic philosopher and is remembered for his writings in the form of the philosophical work "Meditations."

During the Middle Ages, the name Mark gained popularity across Europe, particularly in England and other parts of the British Isles. One notable figure from this period was Mark Twain, the famous American author and humorist. He was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835 and is best known for his novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

In the world of science, the name Mark is associated with Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Facebook. Zuckerberg was born in 1984 and is credited with revolutionizing social media and communication through the creation of the popular social networking platform.

Another prominent figure with the name Mark is Mark Hamill, the American actor best known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy. He was born in 1951 and has had a successful career in film, television, and voice acting.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Mark throughout history, highlighting its enduring popularity and significance across various cultures and time periods.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Mark was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mark, please contact us.

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