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Marco

Boy name · 539 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Marco: 539 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 17 births in 2003.

Of Latin origin, Marco is the Italian and Spanish form of Marcus, itself derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. It’s a name that has travelled widely. Perhaps the most famous bearer is the Venetian explorer Marco Polo, whose 13th-century travels to Asia opened European eyes to the East. In the modern world, German footballer Marco Reus is a notable bearer, while Marco Rubio has been a prominent figure in American politics. The name also features in classic literature with Shakespeare’s *The Merchant of Venice*, in which Marco is a minor character. A more direct place connection is less common, but the root ‘Marcus’ underpins the name of the ancient Roman city of Marciana, now in Italy. A closer variant is the Welsh Mark, though Marco itself is used by Scottish parents seeking a continental feel.