Marco

The first name Marco is the Italian variant of the Latin name Marcus, which means 'belonging to Mars', referring to the Roman god of war, Mars. Although this god inspired the naming, the forms of Marco spread particularly in the Middle Ages through the veneration of the Evangelist Mark, to whom the second book of the New Testament, the 'Gospel of Mark', is dedicated. A well-known bearer of this name is the Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo, who lived in the 13th and 14th centuries.

What does the name Marco mean?

Marco is the Italian form of the Latin name Marcus, which carries the meaning 'dedicated to Mars'. The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly due to the veneration of the Evangelist Mark, whose Gospel bears the name. In the 1970s and 1980s, Marco was one of the most sought-after boy names in Germany, but it is chosen less frequently today. A Germanized variant of the name is Marko, while Markus (German), Marcel (French), and Marek (Polish, Czech, Slovak) are also common forms. The short forms Marc and Mark are also well-known.

Where does the name Marco come from?

The name Marco has its origin in the Latin Marcus, which is derived from the word 'mart-kos' meaning 'belonging to Mars'. It belongs to the group of Latin names and is widespread in several languages, including German and Italian.

How do you pronounce Marco?

The name Marco has an open, two-syllable structure. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'Mar-co' [ˈmaʁko], with the first syllable emphasized with a clear, wide-open 'a'. The rolled 'r' gives the sound a special depth. The hard 'k' in the second syllable adds a distinctive accent, while the open 'o' gently fades away. Overall, Marco conveys a harmonious and stable sound.

When is the name day of Marco?

The name days for Marco are celebrated on April 25, June 16, and October 7.

Popularity

In Germany, Marco is a widely used first name. Currently, it ranks 439th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best placement was in 1973, when it reached 11th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 1,900 times, placing it 354th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 285th.

Nicknames & pet names

Coco / Luigi / Mabe / Macci / Macro / Maggo / Marc / Marceredino / Marces / MarCherie / Marci / Marcinho / Marclo / Marcolein / Marcoline / Marcolino / MarcoPolo / Marcrolewski / Marcronski / Marcy / Markohl / Mäcky

Similar first names

Famous people

• Marco Angelini (Austrian singer)
• Marco Antonio Bassetti (Italian painter)
• Marco Antonio Rodriguez Beltran (Mexican footballer)
• Marco Ban (German football player)
• Marco Bergamini (Football player from Italy)
• Marco Bode (Former football player)
• Marco Borciani (Italian motorcycle racer)
• Marco Bührer (Ice hockey player)
• Marco Caligiuri (German-Italian football player)
• Marco Cochrane (Stonemason from America)
• Marco Da Silva (Portuguese choreographer, singer & dancer)
• Marco the Phoenix (Character in One Piece)
• Marco di Carli (German swimmer)
• Marco Di Vaio (Football player from Italy)
• Marco Engelhardt (Football player (1. FC NÜRNBERG))
• Marco Fritscher (German football player)
• Marco Gebhardt (German football player)
• Marco Girnth (Actor)
• Marco Hietala (Bassist and singer of Nightwish and Tarot)
• Marco Huck (Boxer)