Markiss
A masculine name derived from the name Mark, potentially of Latin origin meaning "war-like".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Markiss. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Markiss today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Markiss births was 2007 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Markiss. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Markiss. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2007
5 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2009 SSA rank
#13,770
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Markiss: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Markiss 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 Markiss during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Markiss
The given name Markiss has its origins in the ancient Aramaic language, which was widely spoken in the Middle East during the first millennium BC. It is derived from the Aramaic word "markiz," which means "mighty warrior" or "valiant fighter." The name was particularly popular among the Aramaic-speaking tribes that inhabited the region between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, now known as modern-day Syria and Iraq.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Markiss can be found in the ancient Aramaic inscriptions discovered in the ruins of Palmyra, an oasis city in the Syrian Desert. These inscriptions, dating back to the 3rd century BC, mention a prominent figure named Markiss, who was a military commander and influential leader within the Palmyrene society.
In the following centuries, the name Markiss gained popularity among various Semitic cultures, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Phoenicians. It was frequently bestowed upon warriors, soldiers, and individuals who displayed exceptional bravery and strength on the battlefield.
During the Byzantine era, the name Markiss was adopted by some Greek-speaking communities, particularly in the eastern regions of the Byzantine Empire. One notable figure who bore this name was Markiss of Antioch, a Christian martyr who lived in the 4th century AD and was executed for refusing to renounce his faith during the Roman persecutions.
In the medieval period, the name Markiss appeared in various Arabic and Persian texts, often associated with renowned military leaders and warriors. For example, Markiss al-Baghdadi was a celebrated Arab general who played a significant role in the conquest of Persia during the 7th century AD.
Other notable individuals with the name Markiss include Markiss of Tarsus (c. 200 AD), a prominent Christian philosopher and theologian; Markiss the Younger (c. 450 AD), a Byzantine architect and engineer known for his innovative construction techniques; and Markiss al-Razi (c. 865-925 AD), a renowned Persian physician, philosopher, and alchemist who made significant contributions to the field of medicine.
While the name Markiss has fallen out of widespread use in modern times, it remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of the ancient Aramaic and Semitic civilizations that once thrived in the Middle East.
People
Markiss + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Markiss 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
Markiss: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Markiss?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Markiss 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Markiss a common name?
We classify Markiss as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Markiss most popular?
The single biggest year for Markiss was 2007, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Markiss is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Markiss in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Markiss a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Markiss 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.
Is Markiss still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Markiss in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Markiss can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Markiss?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.