Martin

Martin - A very unique male name

Martin appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #87. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Martin and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Martin? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Martin. The baby boy name Martin was given to 975 baby boys in 2025, ranking #336 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,504 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Martin peaked in popularity 63 years ago in 1963 on position 62.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Martin, 1-5?

Martin is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Martin is currently topping the baby name charts in District of Columbia at position #90 - and is the least popular in Missouri at position #625.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Martin is where you live.

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Martin origin and meaning

Latin, from Martinus

'Of Mars' — Martinus derives from Mars, the Roman god of war

Martin comes from the Latin Martinus, a derivative of Mars, and was spread across Europe by Saint Martin of Tours, one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages. It has been in US data every year since 1910 and peaked in 1963. It has eased down since 2020 but remains a steady classic.

Attested etymology

Martin is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Martin, pop culture references for the name Martin and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Martin

We've found the following names that sound similar to Martin, sorted by popularity.

Morton / Merton / Mortimer / Martinez / Martine / Martino / Martinjr / Martynas / Marten / Martina /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Martin

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Martin a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Martin?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

MAR-tin · /ˈmɑːrtɪn/

Around the world

• Martín (Spanish) — Spanish accented form
• Martin (French) — Used as-is in French, pronounced differently
• Martin (German) — Used as-is in German
• Martino (Italian) — Italian form

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: Marty

Famous bearers

• Martin Luther — German theologian of the Reformation (1483–1546) Historical
• Martin Luther King Jr. — Civil rights leader (1929–1968) Historical
• Martin Scorsese — Film director (b. 1942) Contemporary

Style

ClassicInternational

Why parents choose it

Martin is understated and durable — a saint's name, a reformer's name and a civil-rights leader's name that never feels tied to one decade.

Worth knowing

• Marty, the obvious nickname, feels more dated than the full name.