Mārcis is a Latvian masculine given name. Originally a short form of Mārtiņš, it has come into use as an independent name. Mārtiņš itself is the Latvian form of Martin, which derives from the Roman name Martinus, based on Martis, the genitive of the name of the Roman god Mars.History and UseThe name Martin gained popularity across Christian Europe due to Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop known for sharing his cloak with a beggar. As a short form, Mārcis follows a common Latvian pattern of truncating names, similar to other Baltic naming customs. While initially a diminutive, it now stands alone in the Latvian name registry.Notable BearersProminent individuals named Mārcis include:Mārcis Auziņš (born 1956), Latvian physicistMārcis Ošs (born 1991), Latvian footballerMārcis Rullis (born 1979), Latvian bobsledderMārcis Štrobinders (born 1966), Latvian track and field athleteKey FactsMeaning: Of Mars (Roman god)Origin: Latvian diminutive of Mārtiņš, ultimately from MartinType: First name, masculineUsage regions: Latvia