Marcel is a masculine given name of French origin. It is derived from the Latin word "Marcellus," which means "dedicated to Mars." Mars was the Roman god of war, so this name has a strong and powerful connotation.
The name Marcel became popular in France during the Middle Ages and has since spread throughout Europe and beyond. In France, it has been one of the most consistently popular boy's names over the centuries, often appearing in the top 20 most popular names.
Some notable individuals with the name Marcel include:
* Marcel Proust (1871-1922), a French novelist known for his masterpiece "À la recherche du temps perdu" ("In Search of Lost Time").
* Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968), a French-American painter and sculptor who was a leading figure in the development of conceptual art.
* Marcel Marceau (1923-2007), a French mime artist who is considered one of the most influential performers of the 20th century.
While Marcell may not be as commonly used today as it once was, it remains a classic and timeless name with a rich history. It has been associated with notable figures in various fields, from literature to art to entertainment.
The name Marcell has seen a varied trend of popularity in the United States over the past century, with noticeable fluctuations from year to year.
In the early 1910s, Marcell was given to around 6 to 12 newborns annually. This number increased significantly in the late 1910s and early 1920s, reaching a peak of 23 births in 1922. However, the popularity of the name began to decline again in the mid-1920s, with only around 6 to 22 newborns named Marcell each year until the late 1940s.
The name saw a resurgence in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, with over 10 births each year. The highest point was reached in 1966, with 43 newborns named Marcell. This trend continued into the 1970s, with over 40 births annually until 1976.
The popularity of the name Marcell began to decline again in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with fewer than 40 births each year. However, it picked up again in the mid-1980s and reached another peak in 1989 with 94 births.
The name Marcell continued to be popular throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, with around 60 to 105 newborns named Marcell each year. The popularity of the name began to decline again after 2005, with fewer than 80 births annually until 2023.
In total, over the past century, there have been 4754 newborns named Marcell in the United States. While the popularity of the name has fluctuated significantly over time, it remains a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking for an uncommon name for their child.