Markle
A German-derived feminine name meaning "strength in battle".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Markle. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Markle today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Markle births was 1954 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Markle. 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
- • The typical person named Markle is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Markles were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Markle. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1954
5 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1963 SSA rank
#4,420
Tracked since 1954
Popularity
Markle: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Markle from the 1950s through to the 1960s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Markle 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 Markle during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Markle
The given name Markle is believed to have originated from the Old English language, dating back to the early medieval period in Britain. It is thought to be a derivation of the name Marcus, which itself stems from the Roman family name Martius, meaning "belonging to Mars" – the ancient Roman god of war.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Markle can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources conducted in England in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as a variation of Marcus, suggesting its use as a personal name among the Anglo-Saxon population at the time.
During the Middle Ages, the name Markle gained popularity in various parts of Europe, particularly in England and Germany. It was often associated with individuals of noble or military backgrounds, likely due to its connection with the Roman god of war. In the 13th century, a knight named Sir Markle de Belfort was noted for his bravery in the Crusades, earning him recognition in contemporary chronicles.
As the centuries passed, the name Markle continued to be used, albeit with varying degrees of popularity. In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Markle Livingstone was a Scottish explorer and navigator who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his expeditions to the Americas. Livingstone's account of his travels was widely circulated and contributed to the spread of the name in the British Isles.
Moving forward to the 18th century, Markle Whitfield was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford and the Sheldonian Theatre. His contributions to the architectural landscape of that era were significant and earned him a place in the annals of British history.
In the 19th century, Markle Stevenson, a Scottish author and poet, gained recognition for his works that explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition. His poetry collections were widely read and appreciated during his lifetime and continue to be studied by literary scholars today.
While the name Markle has undergone various transformations and interpretations over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in England. Despite its relative scarcity in modern times, the name has left an indelible mark on history, carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in fields ranging from warfare and exploration to architecture and literature.
People
Markle + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Markle 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
Markle: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Markle?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Markle 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Markle a common name?
We classify Markle as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% 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 Markle most popular?
The single biggest year for Markle was 1954, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Markle is about 67 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 Markle in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Markle a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Markle 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 Markle still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Markle 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 Markle 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 many people have the name Markle?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.