name
Common
Marcus
MAH-kuhs
Marcus (name) means a male given name of Latin origin. Example: “Marcus was named after his grandfather.”
name
1
A male given name of Latin origin.
"At epig. 73.5 the question ‘quis Marcus?’ is much more sensible, because there could have been many Marci to choose amongst."
— Nigel M. Kay, editor, Ausonius: Epigrams (2001)
"Marcus was named after his grandfather."
"Rubin wondered who Marcus was. It was a City name, but there were many Marcuses."
— Stella Gemmell, The Immortal Throne (The City; 2) (2016)
How to use Marcus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classic male name going back to ancient Rome, still common today.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Marcuses, Marci
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ was named after his grandfather.
Etymology
From Latin Marcus, an old Roman praenomen possibly linked to Mars, the god of war. It is a doublet of Mark.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Marcus” mean?
The word “Marcus” means a male given name of Latin origin. In plain terms, a classic male name going back to ancient Rome, still common today.
How do you pronounce “Marcus”?
“Marcus” is pronounced MAH-kuhs (/ˈmɑɹkəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “Marcus” in a sentence?
Here is “Marcus” used in a sentence: “Marcus was named after his grandfather.”
What part of speech is “Marcus”?
“Marcus” is a name.
Where does the word “Marcus” come from?
The word “Marcus” comes from Latin. From Latin Marcus, an old Roman praenomen possibly linked to Mars, the god of war. It is a doublet of Mark.
Is “Marcus” a common word?
“Marcus” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Marcus and Mark?
Mark is the English form of the Latin name Marcus, so the two names share the same origin. Marcus keeps the fuller Latin spelling, while Mark is the shorter form that became standard in English-speaking countries. Many men named Marcus use Mark or Marc informally.
What are common nicknames for Marcus?
The most common short forms of Marcus are Marc, Mark, and Marky. Some bearers keep Marcus in full, since the name is already short and easy to say.
Is Marcus a first name or a surname?
Marcus is primarily a male given name of Latin origin, and it was in use as a personal name as far back as ancient Rome. It also appears as a surname in English-speaking countries, though that use is far less common.
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