Meaning and Origin of The Name Mark

The name Mark is a common name given to boys. The name derives from the Latin name Mart-kos. In old Latin, the meaning of Mark was associated with the God of Mars. According to classical mythology, the God of Mars was also the god of War and had warlike attributes. For this reason, the name is often associated with war and male strength. In Ancient Rome, Marcus was one of the three most common names given to boys. The modern day name Mark actually derives from the name Marcus.

The name also traces its roots in Christianity because the second Gospel in the New Testament was written by Saint Mark, the patron saint of Venice.

Popularity

While the name was used in the Middle Ages, Mark’s popularity grew in the 19th century in the English speaking world. However in 2012, It is not currently in the top 100 boys’ names in England.

Famous People Called Mark

 

In fact, in the Celtic legend of Tristan and Isolde, the King of Cornwall was named Mark. Today, many famous people are named Mark including Mark Wahlberg, the actor, Mark Zuckerman, the founder of Facebook and Mark Twain, the pen name for the famous American author who wrote Huckleberry Finn.

Useful Resources

• Discover other English boys’ names on our website.