Where does the name Mario come from?

Mario is a boy name of Latin origin.

Is Mario a boy or a girl name?

Mario is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Mario are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Mario in 2023?

Mario ranks #404 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1980 with 2,974 babies.

How do you pronounce Mario?

Mario is pronounced MAR-ee-oh (3 syllables).

What are common spellings of Mario?

Mario is also written as Marius, Marios, Mário.

A name from Latin · Boy

Mario

Italian and Spanish form of Marius, an ancient Roman family name of disputed origin — possibly from Mars, the Roman god of war, or from Latin mas/maris meaning 'male'. One of the most enduring names of Italian heritage.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 126-year arc in numbers.

149,779 U.S. births recorded from 1897–2023.

Popularity · 1897–2023

791 births in 2023

1897 1960 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

MItalian and Spanish form of Marius, an ancient Roman family name of disputed origin — possibly from Mars, the Roman god of war, or from Latin mas/maris meaning 'male'. One of the most enduring names of Italian heritage.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Mario".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Marius Most common Marios Mário

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Mario.

M
Super Mario (Nintendo character)
M
Mario Andretti (racing legend)
M
Mario Puzo (author of The Godfather)

Quick answers

People often ask about Mario.

What does the name Mario mean?: Mario means italian and Spanish form of Marius, an ancient Roman family name of disputed origin — possibly from Mars, the Roman god of war, or from Latin mas/maris meaning 'male'. One of the most enduring names of Italian heritage.
Where does the name Mario come from?: Mario is a boy name of Latin origin.
Is Mario a boy or a girl name?: Mario is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Mario are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Mario in 2023?: Mario ranks #404 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1980 with 2,974 babies.
How do you pronounce Mario?: Mario is pronounced MAR-ee-oh (3 syllables).
What are common spellings of Mario?: Mario is also written as Marius, Marios, Mário.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.