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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Marcus or Daniel for our baby: which do you prefer?

35 replies

ForDearJadeCat · 19/07/2026 01:26

Hi everyone, my husband and I can't decide on a name for our baby. We're choosing between Marcus (Mark) and Daniel. Which name do you think is better?

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Minasama · 22/07/2026 23:05

Voting has finished but I prefer Marcus! Unusual yet classic.

Any1ForTennis · 22/07/2026 23:04

Daniel is great, not keen on Marcus as I have bank accounts with them.

ButtercupYellow26 · 22/07/2026 23:01

Daniel

EverMissWicklowSometimes · 22/07/2026 22:31

Are you naming a baby or a 39 year old bloke?!

Anyway, Daniel. Marcus is dreadful.

entitledtomyopinion · 22/07/2026 22:26

Marcus. Lovely strong name.

17caterpillars1mouse · 22/07/2026 22:21

I really like both. If it helps dd who is 7 has a Markus in her class but he's the only one we're come across. The youngest Daniel i know is 10.

I think i prefer Daniel though i'm a bit undecided on Danny

Calliopespa · 22/07/2026 21:43

I like Marcus. Daniel not so much though I quite like Dan. It's the Niel bit that puts me off as it reminds me of Neil.

I'd go with Marcus: good, strong, classical name.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 19/07/2026 23:33

Daniel is lovely. We used to have a dog called Marcus so I think on him, but I like Mark as a name in itself.

Shloopie · 19/07/2026 23:31

Marcus has more weight

greenfingers2026 · 19/07/2026 23:30

All the boys named Marcus I know are very much Marcus not Mark. I prefer Daniel, personally.

LivingTheDreamish · 19/07/2026 18:44

Both lovely and I would struggle to choose too. Marcus might edge it for me as it feels more distinctive. But only if we are talking about Marcus, not Mark which, as already noted, is a different name.

dnadiscoveryquery · 19/07/2026 18:14

I grew up in the 80’s/90’s and knew so many Daniel’s and Mark’s so they seem unsuitable for a baby to me, but I know that’s just my age circumstances. We had three Daniel’s in our small class of 16 kids!

I think I prefer Daniel overall. It’ll likely get shortened to Dan/Danny though.

Megsdaughter · 19/07/2026 18:09

My Marcus has never been shortened, Daniel is known as Danny.

Armorlux · 19/07/2026 18:05

Mark and Marcus are two separate names. If you want to shorten Marcus to Mark straight away, then name him Mark.

Firebird83 · 19/07/2026 17:56

Daniel

NamingNoNames · 19/07/2026 16:10

I'd put them in the order:
Mark
Daniel
Marcus

I've just remembered the name of some neighbours' children when I was a kid. I could remember DC1 and DC3's names but not their DC2. It was Mark!

SwirlingAroundSleep · 19/07/2026 16:07

Daniel as it’s less common (I’ve never taught one) and the the kids call Marcus that I’ve taught/known as friends of my own children have been rather snobby or mean children so it’s tainted the name for me.

Anon501178 · 19/07/2026 16:05

I would go for Marcus, but not shorten it to mark as I think both that and Daniel sound more dated for a baby IMO

NamingNoNames · 19/07/2026 16:02

Both names are fine. Depends on whether you like Dan/Danny or not, and if the names go with the surname.
There were 10,336 Daniels registered in England & Wales in 1996, when it was the 2nd most popular name, so there will be a lot of them in their late 20s and 30s.
There are a lot of Marks in their 50s and 60s.

Megsdaughter · 19/07/2026 08:00

Either they are brilliant names. I nameds my DS's them 😁

Ipsevenenabibas · 19/07/2026 07:58

Love them both!

dizzydizzydizzy · 19/07/2026 07:55

I voted Daniel but they are both perfectly fine names and you please ignore the choices of us randoms
on the internet. Who cares whether I prefer Daniel? It’s your choice.

Divebar2021 · 19/07/2026 07:50

Well, don’t think about Marcus and Daniel think about Mark and Dan… I prefer Dan so Daniel it is for me. ( regardless of what you call the baby that’s realistically what they will be through life )

OwlCalledSage · 19/07/2026 07:47

I like them both. Daniel is massively common in the 30-50 age group, but I’d wager there aren’t many babies named Daniel.

ShanghaiDiva · 19/07/2026 07:44

Both nice names. I prefer Daniel.