Marko

The name Marko is the South Slavic variant of Markus and represents a Germanized form of Marco. It originates from the Latin name Marcus and carries the meaning 'dedicated to Mars,' referring to the Roman god of war Mars.

What does the name Marko mean?

Marko is a South Slavic derivation of the name Markus and is also used as a Germanized spelling of Marco. Its roots lie in the Latin name Marcus, which means 'dedicated to Mars.' The name became popular in the Middle Ages mainly due to the veneration of the Evangelist Mark, after whom the second book of the New Testament, the 'Gospel of Mark,' is named. A well-known bearer of this name was Marko Kraljević, a Serbian king of the 14th century. In Germany, the spelling Marko was used more frequently only in the 1970s and 1980s, but it remains less widespread compared to Marco with a 'c.' Other variants of Marko or Markus include Marcel (French) and Marek (Polish, Czech, Slovak), as well as the short forms Marc and Mark.

Where does the name Marko come from?

The name Marko has its origin in the Latin name Marcus, which goes back to the Latin 'mart-kos,' meaning 'belonging to Mars.' It is widespread in various languages, including German, Estonian, Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, Slavic, Slovenian, South Slavic, and Hungarian.

How do you pronounce Marko?

The pronunciation of Marko is clear and two-syllable. In German, it is usually pronounced as 'Mar-ko' [ˈmaʁko]. The first syllable begins with an open 'a,' conveying openness, while the open 'o' in the second syllable provides a harmonious ending. Marko appears as an international name that feels both down-to-earth and modern.

When is the name day of Marko?

The name day of Marko is celebrated on April 25 (Evangelist Mark), June 16 (Marcus of Apollonia), September 17 (Marko of Križevci), and October 7 (Saint Mark, Bishop of Rome).

Popularity

In Germany, Marko is among the sought-after first names and currently ranks 346th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best placement was in 1985 when it reached 64th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 1,400 times, placing it 434th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 404th.

Nicknames & pet names

Makaroni / Maki / Marcochen / Marcol / Mark / Markan / Markic / Markica / Markij / Markoli / Markolito / Maro / Mazo

Famous people

• Marko Arnautovic (footballer)
• Marko Babić (Croatian footballer)
• Marko Bijelic (son of singer Dragana Mirkovic)
• Marko Brainovic (water polo player from Croatia)
• Marko Cabov (Croatian actor)
• Marko Docic (Yugoslav footballer)
• Marko Dordevic (footballer from Serbia)
• Marko Jankovic (Yugoslav footballer)
• Marko Jaric (Serbian basketball player)
• Marko Johansson (footballer from Sweden)
• Marko Jovanović (Serbian footballer)
• Marko Kolar (footballer from Great Britain)
• Marko Marin (football player)
• Marko Momcilovic (Yugoslav footballer)
• Marko Murat (Austrian artist)
• Marko Myyry (Finnish football player)
• Marko Ostoja (tennis player from Germany)
• Marko Pantelic (footballer)
• Marko Pejic (football player from Croatia)
• Marko Perkovic (Croatian singer)