Marcus
Boy name · #258 in 2025 · Uniqueness 55/100
In 2025, 1,341 baby boys were named Marcus, placing it at #258 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #168, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,342 boys born in 2025 was named Marcus.
The 145-year story
Marcus first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 47 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1984, when 5,996 boys were named Marcus — good for #57 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Marcus per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marcus against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marcus in class?
Marcus scores 55 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marcus is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marcus is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Marcuss were CA (170), TX (140), FL (82), NY (71), PA (67). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Marcus
Statistically, parents drawn to Marcus tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mario, Travis, Bryan, Justin, and Derek.
MarioTravisBryanJustinDerekVictorJoelJesse
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marcus | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,341 | #258 |
| 2024 | 1,382 | #256 |
| 2023 | 1,400 | #250 |
| 2022 | 1,479 | #235 |
| 2021 | 1,616 | #228 |
| 2020 | 1,661 | #226 |
| 2019 | 1,722 | #218 |
| 2018 | 1,901 | #209 |
| 2017 | 2,037 | #194 |
| 2016 | 2,183 | #183 |
| 2015 | 2,481 | #168 |
| 2014 | 2,620 | #157 |
| 2013 | 2,536 | #159 |
| 2012 | 2,718 | #149 |
| 2011 | 2,814 | #145 |
| 2010 | 3,131 | #130 |
| 2009 | 3,409 | #123 |
| 2008 | 3,392 | #125 |
| 2007 | 3,670 | #117 |
| 2006 | 3,813 | #112 |
| 2005 | 3,477 | #116 |
| 2004 | 3,480 | #116 |
| 2003 | 3,395 | #119 |
| 2002 | 3,544 | #106 |
| 2001 | 3,696 | #104 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Marcus a popular boy name?
Marcus ranked #258 among boys in 2025 with 1,341 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #168.
When was the name Marcus most popular?
Marcus peaked in 1984, when 5,996 American boys received the name (ranked #57 that year). Since 1984 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marcus?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,342 newborn American boys was named Marcus. It scores 55/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.