Marco
MAR-ko /ˈmɑːr.koʊ/
Meaning of Marco
Marco is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Mark, from the Latin Marcus — derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. The name has ancient Roman roots (Marcus Tullius Cicero, Marcus Aurelius) and entered Christian use through Saint Mark the Evangelist, the reputed author of the second Gospel. Marco Polo (c.1254–1324) gave the name its iconic Italian-explorer association.
Current popularity of Marco
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (ISTAT) | 2024 | #10 |
| Spain (INE) | 2024 | #24 |
| Germany (GfdS) | 2024 | #35 |
Notable bearers of Marco
Marco Polo (explorer, c.1254–1324); Marco Aurelio (Roman emperor); Marco Pierre White (chef).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Marco — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31