Marcel is a distinctive choice, ranked #475 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Marcel in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#475
US Rank #753
About the Name Marcel
Marcel has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 158 places in five years. It was most popular in 2018 at #221 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Marcel is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #753 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Marcel
Unlikely. With around 84 UK babies named Marcel per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Marcel in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Marcel has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 158 places in the last five years. Its peak was #221 in 2018. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Marcel is more popular in the UK (#475) than in the US (#753). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Marcel include: Marcel Desailly — Marcel David Desailly is a former professional footballer, who played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder.; Marcel Kalonda — Marcel Kabongo Kalonda is a Congolese footballer who plays as a defender for Kansanshi Dynamos.; Mario Marcel — Mario Marcel Cullell is a Chilean economist who has served as Chile Minister of Finance from 11 March 2022 to 21 August 2025..
Marcel ranks #753 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
84
UK babies named Marcel (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 158 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Marcel
Likely around 1 other Marcel in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Marcel
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Marcel David Desailly is a former professional footballer, who played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder. During a successful career at club level, lasting from 1986 to 2006, Desailly won several titles, including UEFA Champions League medals with both Marseille and AC Milan, and also played for Nantes and Chelsea, among other teams.
Marcel François Marie Joseph Lefebvre was a French Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Dakar from 1955 to 1962. He was a major influence in modern traditionalist Catholicism, founding in 1970 the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) to train traditionalist seminarians.
Marcellin "Marcel" Cerdan was a French professional boxer and world middleweight champion in 1948-1949. He was considered by many boxing experts and fans to be France's greatest boxer, and beyond to be one of the best to have learned his craft in Africa.
Mario Marcel Cullell is a Chilean economist who has served as Chile Minister of Finance from 11 March 2022 to 21 August 2025. He previously served as Governor of the Central Bank of Chile.
Marcel Henri Barbeault is a French serial killer who murdered eight people in Nogent-sur-Oise in the 1970s. He is responsible for the murder of seven women and one man.
Marcel Israël Mauss was a French sociologist and anthropologist known as the "father of French ethnology". The nephew of Émile Durkheim, Mauss, in his academic work, crossed the boundaries between sociology and anthropology.
Marcel Dadi was a Tunisian-born French virtuoso guitarist known for his finger-picking style which faithfully recreated the instrumental styles of American guitarists such as Chet Atkins, Merle Travis and Jerry Reed. He became a friend of country star Chet Atkins.
Marcel Marceau was a French mime artist and actor most famous for his stage persona, "Bip the Clown". He referred to mime as the "art of silence", performing professionally worldwide for more than 60 years.