Marcel is a classic French given name derived from the Latin 'marcelus', meaning "dedicated to Mars", the Roman god of war, conveying strength and bravery. It gained popularity in France during the Middle Ages and was borne by several notable figures such as Marcel I, bishop of Paris, and Marcel Proust, famous novelist. Despite its French origins, Marcel has been widely adopted across different cultures and countries, ranking among the top 100 baby boy names in France and Belgium today.