Mark (given name) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark
Statue of Marte (Mars), 1st century, in the Forum of Nerva (Capitoline Museums, Rome)
Gender	Male
Origin
Word/Name	Latin
Meaning	"Of Mars, warlike, warrior" or "famous counsel"
Other names
Related names	Marc, Marco, Marcos, Marcus, Marek, Marko, Martin

Mark is a common male given name and is related to the Latin word Mars. It means "consecrated to the god Mars", and also may mean "God of war" or "to be warlike". Marcus was one of the three most common Roman given names. It is also used as a short from of Martin, a name which is either also of Latin origin and also meaning "warlike", or derived from Proto-Germanic elements "mar", meaning "famous" and "tank", meaning "thought", "counsel".

Meaning and history

Mark is a form of the name Marcus. Mark the Evangelist is the traditionally ascribed eponymous author of the second Gospel in the New Testament. He is the patron saint of Venice, where he is supposedly buried. Though in use during the Middle Ages, Mark was not common in the English-speaking world until the 19th century, when it began to be used alongside the classical form Marcus.

In the Celtic legend of Tristan and Isolde this was the name of a king of Cornwall. It was also borne by the American author Mark Twain (1835–1910, real name Samuel Clemens), the author of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He took his pen name from a call used by riverboat workers on the Mississippi River to indicate a depth of two fathoms. This is also the usual English spelling of the name of the 1st-century BC Roman triumvir Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony).

In other languages

Academics

• Mark Adler (born 1959), American software engineer
• Mark Azadovsky (1888–1954), Russian scholar of folk-tales and Russian literature
• Mark Benecke (born 1970), German forensic biologist
• Mark Blaug (1927–2011), Dutch-born British economist
• Mark Buchanan (born 1961), American physicist
• Mark Catesby (1682–1749), English naturalist
• Mark Wayne Chase (born 1951), American-born British botanist
• Mark R. Cohen (born 1943), American scholar of Jewish history
• Mark Dean (computer scientist) (born 1957), American inventor and a computer engineer
• Mark Fettes (born 1961), Canadian Esperantist
• Mark Fisher (theorist) (1968–2017), British cultural theorist and philosopher
• Mark Z. Jacobson (born 1965), American civil and environmental engineer
• Mark Jerrum (born 1955), British computer scientist and computational theorist
• Mark Lilla (born 1956), American political scientist and philosopher
• Mark van Loosdrecht (born 1959), Dutch biotechnologist
• Mark Mazower (born 1958), British historian
• Mark P. McCahill (born 1956), American computer scientist and internet pioneer
• Mark Borisovich Mitin (1901–1987), Soviet Marxist-Leninist philosopher
• Mark Oliphant (1901–2000), Australian physicist and humanitarian
• Mark Overmars (born 1958), Dutch computer scientist, creator of Game Maker
• Mark Pattison (academic) (1813–1884), English educational reformer and Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford
• Mark Ptashne (born 1940), American molecular biologist
• Mark Ridley (zoologist) (born 1956), British zoologist and writer on evolution
• Mark Satin (born 1946), American political theorist
• Mark Sedgwick (born 1960), British historian
• Mark R. Showalter (born 1957), American astronomer
• Mark Solonin (born 1958), Russian WWII historian
• Mark Steedman (born 1946), British computational linguist and cognitive scientist
• Mark van Vugt (born 1967), Dutch evolutionary psychologist
• Mark Waer (born 1951), Belgian biomedical scientist and university president
• Mark Wainberg (1945–2017), Canadian HIV/AIDS researcher and activist
• Mark Walport (born 1953), British medical scientist
• Mark Weiser (1952–1999), American chief scientist at Xerox PARC
• Mark Zborowski (1908–1990), American anthropologist and Soviet spy

Acting

• Mark Addy, English actor
• Mark Atkinson, American actor
• Mark Benton, English actor
• Mark Burg (born 1959), American film and television producer
• Mark Dexter, English actor
• Mark Eden, English actor
• Mark Famiglietti, American actor and screenwriter
• Mark Fishbach, American YouTuber, Podcaster and Actor
• Mark Hamill, American actor
• Mark Harmon, American actor, producer and director
• Mark Herras, Filipino actor
• Mark Gatiss, English actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer and director
• Mark Indelicato, American actor
• Mark Lamarr, English actor and screenwriter
• Mark LaMura (1948–2017), American actor
• Mark Lenard, American actor
• Mark Linn-Baker, American actor
• Mark McKinney (born 1959), Canadian actor and comedian
• Mark McManus (1935–1994), Scottish actor
• Mark Miller (1924–2022), American stage and television actor and writer
• Mark Pellegrino, American actor, best known as Jacob in Lost
• Mark Proksch, American actor and impersonator, known for On Cinema and What We Do in the Shadows
• Mark Rendall, voice actor and actor
• Mark Robson (film director) (1913–1978), American film director
• Mark Ruffalo, American actor
• Mark Rylance, English actor
• Mark Salling (1982–2018), American actor who was best known for playing Noah Puckerman on Glee
• Mark Samaranayake (1914–2000), Sri Lankan Sinhala cinema and stage actor
• Mark Seibert, German musical theatre actor
• Mark A. Sheppard, actor best known as Crowley on Supernatural
• Mark Allen Shepherd, actor
• Marc Singer, American actor known for his role as Beastmaster and starring in the mini-series V
• Mark Strickson, English actor
• Mark Sinclair (better known as Vin Diesel), American actor, writer, director and producer
• Mark Wahlberg (born 1971), actor, previously known as musician Marky Mark
• Mark Williams (actor), British actor, comedian and scriptwriter
• Mark Womack (British actor) (born 1960)
• Mark Zakharov, Russian director and screenwriter

Arts

• Mark Heyes, British fashion presenter
• Mark Kermode, film critic
• Mark Kostabi, Estonian-American artist
• Mark Rothko, abstract-expressionist painter
• Mark Ryden, pop-surrealist painter
• Mark Samuels, choreographer, and dancer
• Mark Steel, British satirical comedian
• Mark Tobey, American abstract expressionist painter
• Mark Tompkins (dancer), artist, dancer and choreographer of contemporary dance
• Mark Tremonti, American musician and singer, in rock bands Alter Bridge, Tremonti and founding member of Creed

Business

• Mark Cuban, American entrepreneur
• Mark Leiter (businessman), Executive Vice President at Nielsen
• Mark Loughridge, Vice-President of IBM
• Mark Morton (businessman), co-founder of Morton Salt
• Mark Shepherd (businessman), chairman and chief executive officer of Texas Instruments
• Mark Shuttleworth, South African entrepreneur
• Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook

Christianity

• Mark the Evangelist, one of the gospel writers of the life of Jesus
• Marcus I of Byzantium, bishop of Byzantium from 198 to 211 AD
• Pope Mark, pope of the Catholic Church
• Mark Ibn Kunbar, twelfth-century Coptic priest and preacher
• Mark of Ephesus, 15th century Archbishop of Ephesus, Opponent of the Union of Florence
• Patriarch Mark II of Constantinople, reigned from 1465 to 1466

Literature

• Mark Z. Danielewski (born 1966), American novelist
• Mark Lynas, British author, journalist and environmental activist
• Mark Shepherd (novelist), author of several novels in the fantasy genre
• Mark Shulman (author), American children's author
• Mark Andrew Smith, American graphic novelist
• Mark Twain, pen name of American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens
• Mark Van Doren, American poet and literary critic
• Mark Waid, American comic book writer

Music

• Mark Balderas, keyboardist for the alternative rock band Human Drama
• Mark Bautista, Filipino singer
• Mark "Moke" Bistany, former drummer for Otep, Puddle of Mudd and Against All Will
• Mark Farner, American musician
• Mark Feehily, Irish singer in pop group Westlife
• Mark Gasser, British concert pianist
• Mark "Barney" Greenway, singer in British band Napalm Death
• Mark Hoppus, singer/bassist for the rock bands blink-182 and +44
• Mark Jansen, Dutch guitarist, singer, songwriter for Epica
• Mark Knopfler, British musician, member of Dire Straits,
• Mark Lanegan, lead singer of American grunge band Screaming Trees
• Mark Lee, Canadian-Korean rapper of South Korean band NCT
• Mark Linkous, singer from American band Sparklehorse
• Mark Lui, Hong Kong composer
• Mark McClelland, bass guitarist for Little Doses, previously for Snow Patrol
• Mark McGrath, singer of American rock band Sugar Ray
• Mark Mendoza, American bass guitarist
• Mark Morrison (born 1972), German-born British R&B singer
• Mark Morton (guitarist), guitarist from American band Lamb of God
• Mark Mothersbaugh, American composer, co-founder of Devo
• Mark Owen, British singer-songwriter, member of pop band Take That
• Mark Peddle, Canadian musician
• Mark Refoy, guitarist for Spiritualized, Slipstream, Pet Shop Boys
• Mark Richardson (musician), British musician for Skunk Anansie
• Mark Ronson, British-American music performer, producer and DJ
• Mark Sandman, American musician
• Mark Schultz, American contemporary Christian singer
• Mark Sheehan (1976–2023), guitarist for The Script
• Mark Slaughter, American musician, singer and songwriter for hard rock band Slaughter
• Mark Speer, American guitarist and founder of Khruangbin
• Mark Stoermer, American musician and member of The Killers
• Mark Stuart (musician), vocals for Christian band Audio Adrenaline
• Mark Swed, American music critic, chief classical music critic of the Los Angeles Times since 1996
• Mark Tuan, American-Taiwanese member of South Korean band GOT7
• Mark Vincent, Australian opera singer
• Marky Mark, American rapper, now goes by Mark Wahlberg
• Mark Wells (musician), Australian guitarist and musician, ex-member of The Ronnie Wood Band and Twenty Two Hundred

Politics

• Mark Diamond Addy, Ghanaian politician
• Mark Antony, Roman politician and general
• Mark Babin, American politician
• Mark Collett, British political activist
• Mark Dayton, former governor and U.S. senator from Minnesota
• Mark Demesmaeker, Belgian politician and MEP
• Mark Eyskens, Belgian economist, Prime Minister of Belgium in 1981
• Mark Gidley, Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
• Mark Grimes, Canadian politician
• Mark Herring, American politician and current Attorney General of Virginia
• Mark Kelly, American politician and astronaut; current U.S. senator from Arizona
• Mark Latham, Australian politician
• Mark McGowan, Australian politician, Premier of Western Australia
• Mark Persaud, Canadian lawyer
• Mark Pollard, Falkland Islands politician
• Mark Pryor, American lawyer, politician
• Mark Ricks, American politician
• Mark Rutte, Dutch politician, Prime Minister of the Netherlands
• Mark M. Shelton, American politician
• Mark Shepard, Vermont state senator
• Mark Shirey, member of the Alabama House of Representatives
• Mark Snoeren, member of the Dutch House of Representatives
• Mark Spencer, British Member of Parliament
• Mark Squilla, Philadelphia city councilman
• Mark Tisdel, Michigan state representative
• Mark Villar, Filipino politician and businessman
• Mark Warner, former governor of and current U.S. senator from Virginia
• Mark Rozzi, 140th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, current member of the Pennsylvania House of a Representatives

Sports

• Mark Allen (snooker player), Northern Irish snooker player
• Mark Andrews (American football) (born 1996), American football player
• Mark Beck (born 1994), footballer
• Mark Belanger (1944–1998), American baseball player
• Mark Bell (ice hockey), Canadian ice hockey player
• Mark Bellhorn, American baseball player
• Mark Berger (judoka), Canadian Olympic silver & bronze heavyweight judoka
• Mark Bolding (born 1970), Canadian ice hockey coach
• Mark van Bommel, Dutch footballer
• Mark Bott (born 1986), English cricketer
• Mark Boucher, South African cricketer
• Mark Bresciano, Australian soccer player
• Mark Brunell, American football player
• Mark Buehrle, American baseball player
• Mark Calaway, American professional wrestler who uses the stage name "The Undertaker"
• Mark Canha (born 1989), American baseball player
• Mark Casale, American football player
• Mark Cavendish, professional racing cyclist
• Mark Chatfield, American breaststroke swimmer
• Mark Clear (born 1956), American baseball player
• Mark Cohon, Canadian Football League Commissioner
• Mark Dale, English cricketer
• Mark Dean (swimmer), American swimmer
• Mark DeRosa, American baseball player
• Mark de Vries (born 1975), Dutch footballer
• Mark Didio, American football player
• Mark Dismore, American indycar driver
• Mark Du Plessis (born 1975), horse racing jockey
• Mark Dusbabek, American football player
• Mark Donohue, American racing driver
• Mark Ealham, English cricketer
• Mark Ellis (baseball), American baseball player
• Mark Evans (rower), Canadian rower
• Mark Ferreira (born 1967), former professional tennis player from India
• Mark Few (born 1962), American basketball coach
• Mark Fidrych (1954–2009), American baseball player
• Mark-Jan Fledderus (born 1982), Dutch footballer
• Mark Forsythe, Northern Irish long jumper
• Mark Friedman (born 1995), Canadian National Hockey League player
• Mark Garner, Australian track and field sprinter
• Mark Gilbert, American Major League Baseball player, and US Ambassador
• Mark Gilbert (American football) (born 1997), American football player
• Mark Giordano, Canadian ice hockey player
• Mark Gorski, American track cyclist and cycling manager
• Mark Guy, American football player
• Mark Henry, American weightlifter and professional wrestler
• Mark Hughes, Welsh football manager and former player
• Mark Huizinga (born 1973), Dutch judoka
• Mark Hunt, New Zealand mixed martial artist
• Mark Inglis (born 1959), New Zealand mountaineer
• Mark Ingram Sr. (born 1965), American football player
• Mark Ingram II (born 1989), American football player
• Mark Jindrak, American professional wrestler
• Mark Kafentzis, American football player
• Mark Kellar, American football player
• Mark Kennedy (footballer, born 1976), Irish footballer
• Mark Koenig (1904–1993), American baseball player
• Mark Lapidus (born 1995), Estonian chess player
• Mark Lazarus (born 1938), English soccer player
• Mark Lomuket (born 1999), Kenyan long-distance runner
• Mark Lyons, American basketball player in Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Mark Major, Canadian ice hockey player
• Mark Mangino (born 1956), American football coach
• Mark Martin (born 1959), NASCAR driver
• Mark McGwire (born 1963), American baseball player
• Mark Messier (born 1961), Canadian retired hockey player
• Mark Midler (1931–2012), Soviet two-time Olympic champion foil fencer
• Mark Mulder, American baseball player
• Mark Nenow, American long-distance runner
• Mark Noble, English footballer
• Mark O'Meara (born 1957), American professional golfer
• Mark Otten (born 1985), Dutch footballer
• Mark Paré, Canadian NHL official
• Mark Payton (born 1991), American professional baseball player
• Mark Phillips, British Olympic gold-medal horseman
• Mark Pinger, German swimmer
• Mark Price, American basketball player
• Mark Rakita (born 1938), Soviet two-time Olympic champion saber fencer
• Mark Recchi, Canadian hockey player
• Mark Reid (born 1961), Scottish footballer
• Mark Richt (born 1960), American football coach
• Mark Ricks (gridiron football), American football player
• Mark Robinson (darts player), English darts player
• Mark Roth (1951–2021), American pro bowler
• Mark Robins, English football manager and former player
• Mark Roopenian, American football player
• Mark Rypien, American football player
• Mark Sanchez American football player
• Mark Sanford (basketball) American basketball player
• Mark Sears (born 2002), American basketball player
• Mark Selby, English professional snooker and pool player
• Mark Shapiro (sports executive), American baseball executive
• Mark Siebeck, German volleyball player
• Mark Simoneau, American football player
• Mark Sloan (wrestler), British wrestler
• Mark Spitz (born 1950), American nine-time Olympic champion swimmer
• Mark Stanforth, American marathon runner and coach
• Mark Stephney, Montserratian cricketer
• Mark Stone, Canadian ice hockey player
• Mark Streit, Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman
• Mark Švets, Estonian footballer
• Mark Taimanov, Soviet Russian chess player
• Mark Teixeira, professional baseball player (MLB)
• Mark Thorson, American football player
• Mark Todd (equestrian), New Zealand equestrian
• Mark Tollefsen (born 1992), American basketball player in Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Mark Travers (born 1999), Irish footballer
• Mark Traynowicz, American football player
• Mark Trueman (born 1988), English football manager and former player
• Mark Tuitert (born 1980), Dutch speed skater
• Mark Turenshine (1944–2016), American-Israeli basketball player
• Mark van der Zijden (born 1973), Dutch swimmer
• Mark Veens (born 1978), Dutch swimmer
• Mark Veldmate, Dutch footballer
• Mark Viduka, Australian soccer player
• Mark Vital (born 1996), American basketball and football player
• Mark Walsh (darts player), professional darts player
• Mark Walton (American football) (born 1997), American football player
• Mark Ward (footballer born 1982), English footballer
• Mark Warnecke, German swimmer
• Mark Waugh (born 1965), Australian test cricketer (1991–2002) and twin brother of Steve Waugh
• Mark Webber (born 1976), Australian Formula 1 driver
• Mark Wiebe (born 1957), American professional golfer
• Mark Williams (snooker player), Welsh professional snooker player
• Mark Worthington, Australian basketball player
• Mark Wotte (born 1960), Dutch football manager and former player

See also

• Martin (name)