Mark
Peaked at #6 nationally in 1959, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Mark has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Mark derives from the Latin name Marcus, likely connected to Mars, the Roman god of war, though the exact original meaning is debated among scholars. It entered widespread use through Saint Mark the Evangelist, traditionally credited as the author of the Gospel of Mark. The name has remained steadily popular in English since the Middle Ages.
Notable people & culture
Samuel Clemens took the pen name Mark Twain, and the name has since been carried by figures as varied as Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, actor Mark Wahlberg, and NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. Its Latin root, Marcus, also recalls the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. The name doesn't have a common shortened form, since it's already short.
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Mark — Girls (United States)
StablePeak rank
#807
in 1968
Last ranked
#16730
in 2023
Years tracked
106
1892–2023
Trend
Stable
Tracked since 1892, Mark reached its peak popularity for girls in 1968, ranking #807 nationally with 157 babies given the name that year.
Mark hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for girls since 2023, when it stood at #16730.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #16,730 | 5 |
| 2014 | #12,673 | 8 |
| 2013 | #15,843 | 6 |
| 2010 | #16,253 | 6 |
| 2007 | #19,460 | 5 |
| 2006 | #16,407 | 6 |
| 2005 | #11,500 | 9 |
| 2004 | #9,663 | 11 |
Mark — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#6
in 1959
Current rank
#246
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Mark reached its peak popularity for boys in 1959, ranking #6 nationally with 56,946 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #189 (2014) to #246 (2024) — a 23% drop.
As of 2024, Mark ranks #246 nationally for boys, with 1,437 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #246 | 1,437 |
| 2023 | #250 | 1,397 |
| 2022 | #247 | 1,433 |
| 2021 | #252 | 1,406 |
| 2020 | #235 | 1,550 |
| 2019 | #223 | 1,685 |
| 2018 | #210 | 1,874 |
| 2017 | #203 | 1,948 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Mark most popular?
Mark was most popular in 1959, when it ranked #6 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Mark becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently stable; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Mark?
At least 1,365,265 babies have been recorded with the name Mark in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Mark? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.