Markese
An American name of unknown origin, potentially a respelling of Marquis.
Name Census estimates that about 1,139 living Americans carry the first name Markese. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Markese today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Markese births was 1995 (52 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Markese. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 300,926 Americans
Peak year
1995
52 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,057
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Markese: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Markese from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 395 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Markese by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Markese during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Markeses live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Markese, while Virginia, Tennessee, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Markese
The name Markese is a relatively modern variation of the name Mark, which has its origins in the ancient Roman world. Mark is derived from the Latin name Marcus, which is believed to be related to the Roman god of war, Mars. The name Marcus was a popular name among the ancient Romans, particularly in the upper classes and among military leaders.
While the exact origin of the variation Markese is unclear, it is likely a more recent adaptation or alteration of the traditional name Mark. Some scholars suggest that the addition of the "ese" suffix may be an attempt to create a more unique or distinctive version of the name, possibly with roots in certain regional or cultural traditions.
In terms of historical references, the name Mark appears in various ancient texts, including the New Testament of the Bible. One of the four Gospels is attributed to John Mark, who was a companion of the apostles Peter and Paul. Additionally, Mark the Evangelist is venerated as the founder of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Markese can be found in the records of the Italian Renaissance. Markese di Mantova, born in 1420, was an Italian nobleman and military leader who served as the Marquis of Mantua during the 15th century. His name, Markese, was likely a variant of the more common Italian name Marco, which is derived from Marcus.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Mark or its variations:
1. Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE) - A Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, known for his philosophical writings in the work "Meditations."
2. Mark Antony (83-30 BCE) - A Roman politician and general who was part of the Second Triumvirate alongside Octavian and Lepidus.
3. Marco Polo (1254-1324) - A Venetian merchant and explorer, best known for his travels to Asia and his famous travelogue, "The Book of the Marvels of the World."
4. Markos Botsaris (1788-1823) - A Greek military leader and hero of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.
5. Marques Haynes (1926-2015) - An American basketball player and member of the Harlem Globetrotters, known for his exceptional dribbling skills and showmanship.
While the name Markese may not have a long and storied history like its root name Mark, it has been used throughout various cultures and time periods, each with its own unique variations and adaptations. The name continues to be used today, carrying with it the legacy and associations of its ancient Roman origins.
People
Markese + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Markese as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Markese: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Markese?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,139 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Markese going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 300,926 US residents.
Is Markese a common name?
We classify Markese as "Rare". It ranks above 90.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,165 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Markese most popular?
The single biggest year for Markese was 1995, when 52 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Markese is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Markese a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Markese in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.