Marcial is of Latin origin, meaning 'martial' or 'pertaining to Mars', the Roman god of war. It was traditionally used as a given name for males in honor of the god Mars or as an agnomen, a nickname given to a person who had physical strength and courage like that associated with the warrior deity. The name Marcial is also prominent in Spanish-speaking cultures, possibly due to its association with the famous Roman poet Marcus Valerius Martialis, known simply as Martial. In some regions, it may be used as a surname as well.
The name Marcial experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. The earliest recorded year with more than five births was 1921, with 13 births. The name peaked in popularity between 1957 and 1964, with totals ranging from 15 to 24 births per year. Notably, there were no recorded births for the name Marcial between 1932 and 1940, suggesting a period of relatively low popularity during that time. Since the late 1970s, the number of births with the name Marcial has steadily declined, with only occasional spikes in recent years (e.g., 23 births in 2014). As of 2023, the total number of births recorded for the name Marcial stands at 1983.