Mario

Updated: October 3, 2023 by Olivia Mittak

Mario is most well-known because of the video game character of the same name. It is a fun baby name in America that has deep respect in Italian and Spanish families. Mario is a top 500 name in America as of 2022.

Meaning of the name Mario:

Mario is the Italian and Spanish variation of the baby name Marius. The latter was a surname that came from the name Mars. Mars was a given name that represented the god of war with the same name. As such, Mario can be interpreted to mean “warlike”. Given the household name status of the video game character Mario, however, people are more likely to associate a child named Mario with him.

Symbolism of the Name Mario:

The baby name Mario means “Mars” first because it dates back to the Roman god Mars. It also means “warlike” since Mars was the god of all wars, according to Roman mythology.

Nicknames for the Name Mario:

There are some great nicknames available for Mario! Some of these are inspired by the name's historical roots, while others celebrate the name's modern connection to the uber-popular video game character. Take a close look at this list and pick your favorite:

Mars
Mar
Rio
Mari
Ma
Ario
Ari
Mars Bar
O
Mo
Red
Moze
Marius
Mariachi
Little Plumber
Mark

Style of the Name Mario:

Traditional

Gender of the Name Mario:

Mario is a fun and outgoing baby name for boys.

Pronunciation of the Name Mario:

MA-ry-o

Number of Syllables in the Name Mario:

Three

Emotion Evoked From the Name Mario:

Mario is a fun and wholesome baby name. It is unique in that many parents could use it to reference their favorite video games.

Alternative Spellings for the Name Mario:

Maryo
Mareo
Mareeo

Popularity of the Name Mario:

The baby name Mario was a top 200 name in America from 1965 to 2009. It ranked highest in 1980 at number 102. As of 2022, Mario is still popularly used, as it is rank 366 for boys.