Fun Facts About the Name Martha
- Decades of popularity: Martha stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 86 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1965.
- More than 553 thousand babies named Martha: U.S. records list 553,709 babies given the name Martha from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,991 boys received the name Martha - about 1 boy for every 277 girls.
What Does the Name Martha Mean?
Martha is a female given name meaning "lady" or "mistress." It comes from Aramaic mārtā, the feminine form of mār, "lord." The Greek New Testament uses Μάρθα for the sister of Mary and Lazarus of Bethany. The literal sense is a respectful title for a woman; the explanation "mistress of the house" is a customary expansion of that title. In Christian tradition, Martha is also associated with active service and household care because of the Gospel story in which she serves while her sister Mary listens to Jesus, but this association is symbolic rather than part of the name's etymology.
Martha Name History & Origins
The name is known in written tradition from the Greek New Testament, where Μάρθα appears in Luke and John as the name of Martha of Bethany. From Greek it passed into Latin as Martha and then into the languages of Christian Europe. In English, the name is found in the medieval period and remained in use through the Reformation era. Saint Martha of Bethany is commemorated on July 29 in Western Christian tradition. A later legend, set in Provence, made her a missionary and the tamer of a dragon called the Tarasque; this story belongs to traditional hagiography rather than the New Testament. The name has equivalents in several European languages, including Marthe in French, Marta in Spanish and Italian, and Marta in German and Scandinavian usage. European settlers carried the name to the Americas, where it has continued as a familiar given name.
How Popular is the Name Martha?
Martha remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1965. Its highest annual birth count was in 1947, and people born that year turn 79 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #713 | 393 | 0.0245% |
| 2024 | #667 | 431 | 0.0267% |
| 2023 | #674 | 436 | 0.0272% |
| 2022 | #724 | 405 | 0.0247% |
| 2021 | #725 | 394 | 0.0240% |
| 2020 | #767 | 354 | 0.0219% |
| 2019 | #796 | 348 | 0.0207% |
| 2018 | #783 | 349 | 0.0205% |
| 2017 | #746 | 376 | 0.0218% |
| 2016 | #719 | 396 | 0.0224% |
| 2015 | #772 | 367 | 0.0206% |
| 2014 | #735 | 383 | 0.0214% |
| 2013 | #793 | 344 | 0.0196% |
| 2012 | #714 | 392 | 0.0223% |
| 2011 | #739 | 374 | 0.0213% |
| 2010 | #697 | 410 | 0.0231% |
| 2009 | #658 | 450 | 0.0245% |
| 2008 | #607 | 504 | 0.0267% |
| 2007 | #567 | 530 | 0.0276% |
| 2006 | #519 | 583 | 0.0307% |
| 2005 | #504 | 599 | 0.0324% |
| 2004 | #488 | 601 | 0.0327% |
| 2003 | #467 | 638 | 0.0349% |
| 2002 | #405 | 718 | 0.0400% |
| 2001 | #384 | 759 | 0.0422% |
| 2000 | #373 | 787 | 0.0433% |
| 1999 | #384 | 742 | 0.0418% |
| 1998 | #368 | 779 | 0.0441% |
| 1997 | #330 | 863 | 0.0496% |
| 1996 | #319 | 881 | 0.0503% |
| 1995 | #299 | 928 | 0.0528% |
| 1994 | #289 | 954 | 0.0534% |
| 1993 | #263 | 1,058 | 0.0585% |
| 1992 | #242 | 1,146 | 0.0622% |
| 1991 | #246 | 1,132 | 0.0604% |
| 1990 | #224 | 1,267 | 0.0667% |
| 1989 | #220 | 1,249 | 0.0677% |
| 1988 | #231 | 1,138 | 0.0639% |
| 1987 | #236 | 1,143 | 0.0657% |
| 1986 | #227 | 1,153 | 0.0672% |
| 1985 | #211 | 1,221 | 0.0710% |
| 1984 | #216 | 1,210 | 0.0719% |
| 1983 | #196 | 1,349 | 0.0807% |
| 1982 | #188 | 1,449 | 0.0856% |
| 1981 | #175 | 1,572 | 0.0942% |
| 1980 | #178 | 1,554 | 0.0936% |
| 1979 | #185 | 1,443 | 0.0899% |
| 1978 | #176 | 1,486 | 0.0970% |
| 1977 | #171 | 1,596 | 0.1041% |
| 1976 | #161 | 1,598 | 0.1091% |
| 1975 | #149 | 1,791 | 0.1228% |
| 1974 | #150 | 1,833 | 0.1249% |
| 1973 | #158 | 1,725 | 0.1183% |
| 1972 | #151 | 1,895 | 0.1246% |
| 1971 | #147 | 2,190 | 0.1316% |
| 1970 | #143 | 2,368 | 0.1355% |
| 1969 | #139 | 2,428 | 0.1439% |
| 1968 | #123 | 2,581 | 0.1573% |
| 1967 | #117 | 2,911 | 0.1763% |
| 1966 | #106 | 3,271 | 0.1933% |
| 1965 | #99 | 3,799 | 0.2152% |
| 1964 | #95 | 4,450 | 0.2348% |
| 1963 | #90 | 4,886 | 0.2535% |
| 1962 | #87 | 5,158 | 0.2623% |
| 1961 | #81 | 5,724 | 0.2836% |
| 1960 | #83 | 5,831 | 0.2884% |
| 1959 | #72 | 6,439 | 0.3182% |
| 1958 | #69 | 6,751 | 0.3356% |
| 1957 | #63 | 7,362 | 0.3600% |
| 1956 | #59 | 7,709 | 0.3840% |
| 1955 | #53 | 7,930 | 0.4056% |
| 1954 | #46 | 8,596 | 0.4427% |
| 1953 | #41 | 9,263 | 0.4924% |
| 1952 | #40 | 9,696 | 0.5229% |
| 1951 | #38 | 9,605 | 0.5334% |
| 1950 | #32 | 9,838 | 0.5743% |
| 1949 | #34 | 9,809 | 0.5733% |
| 1948 | #32 | 10,011 | 0.5896% |
| 1947 | #32 | 10,652 | 0.6009% |
| 1946 | #32 | 9,759 | 0.6211% |
| 1945 | #30 | 8,751 | 0.6695% |
| 1944 | #29 | 9,336 | 0.7034% |
| 1943 | #29 | 9,705 | 0.6956% |
| 1942 | #29 | 9,511 | 0.7042% |
| 1941 | #25 | 9,157 | 0.7580% |
| 1940 | #26 | 8,695 | 0.7604% |
| 1939 | #27 | 8,492 | 0.7744% |
| 1938 | #26 | 8,579 | 0.7775% |
| 1937 | #24 | 7,954 | 0.7475% |
| 1936 | #24 | 7,391 | 0.7104% |
| 1935 | #24 | 7,621 | 0.7268% |
| 1934 | #27 | 7,604 | 0.7282% |
| 1933 | #27 | 7,164 | 0.7108% |
| 1932 | #27 | 7,579 | 0.7102% |
| 1931 | #28 | 7,482 | 0.7027% |
| 1930 | #27 | 7,831 | 0.6955% |
| 1929 | #27 | 7,639 | 0.6842% |
| 1928 | #22 | 8,252 | 0.7155% |
| 1927 | #24 | 8,304 | 0.6964% |
| 1926 | #24 | 8,556 | 0.7218% |
| 1925 | #23 | 8,762 | 0.7197% |
| 1924 | #21 | 9,320 | 0.7463% |
| 1923 | #21 | 8,961 | 0.7428% |
| 1922 | #21 | 9,021 | 0.7511% |
| 1921 | #21 | 9,264 | 0.7513% |
| 1920 | #23 | 8,709 | 0.7268% |
| 1919 | #25 | 8,322 | 0.7364% |
| 1918 | #25 | 8,342 | 0.7206% |
| 1917 | #22 | 8,261 | 0.7640% |
| 1916 | #24 | 7,610 | 0.7287% |
| 1915 | #25 | 7,216 | 0.7334% |
| 1914 | #27 | 5,432 | 0.7133% |
| 1913 | #28 | 4,538 | 0.7266% |
| 1912 | #29 | 3,911 | 0.7007% |
| 1911 | #28 | 3,019 | 0.7217% |
| 1910 | #28 | 2,858 | 0.7208% |
| 1909 | #28 | 2,510 | 0.7229% |
| 1908 | #32 | 2,324 | 0.6952% |
| 1907 | #31 | 2,274 | 0.7138% |
| 1906 | #29 | 2,199 | 0.7447% |
| 1905 | #32 | 2,091 | 0.7170% |
| 1904 | #29 | 2,019 | 0.7332% |
| 1903 | #29 | 1,980 | 0.7558% |
| 1902 | #30 | 2,030 | 0.7687% |
| 1901 | #29 | 1,886 | 0.7880% |
| 1900 | #28 | 2,437 | 0.8129% |
| 1899 | #28 | 1,907 | 0.8184% |
| 1898 | #25 | 2,184 | 0.8440% |
| 1897 | #26 | 1,990 | 0.8497% |
| 1896 | #26 | 2,022 | 0.8499% |
| 1895 | #25 | 2,096 | 0.8972% |
| 1894 | #24 | 1,968 | 0.8828% |
| 1893 | #25 | 1,805 | 0.8478% |
| 1892 | #24 | 1,915 | 0.9019% |
| 1891 | #21 | 1,744 | 0.9403% |
| 1890 | #22 | 1,784 | 0.9371% |
| 1889 | #21 | 1,711 | 0.9593% |
| 1888 | #19 | 1,769 | 0.9904% |
| 1887 | #17 | 1,504 | 1.0303% |
| 1886 | #18 | 1,491 | 1.0316% |
| 1885 | #17 | 1,425 | 1.0710% |
| 1884 | #16 | 1,443 | 1.1184% |
| 1883 | #15 | 1,255 | 1.1173% |
| 1882 | #14 | 1,229 | 1.1396% |
| 1881 | #17 | 1,044 | 1.1354% |
| 1880 | #16 | 1,040 | 1.1429% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | #5,386 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #6,768 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #7,324 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #5,514 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #7,009 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #3,717 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #3,052 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #3,297 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #4,464 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #4,349 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #2,665 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1984 | #2,900 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #2,752 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1982 | #2,782 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #4,382 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #3,193 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #3,488 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #3,752 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #4,439 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #4,263 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #2,854 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #3,483 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #4,347 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #2,764 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1971 | #2,647 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #2,591 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #2,506 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #2,844 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,309 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #2,105 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #2,044 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1964 | #2,168 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #2,013 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #1,697 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #3,026 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #1,953 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #2,079 | 16 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #1,440 | 30 | 0.0014% |
| 1957 | #1,822 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #1,705 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #1,829 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1954 | #1,871 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #2,009 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #1,727 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #1,392 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1950 | #1,994 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #1,396 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1948 | #1,590 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1947 | #1,632 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1946 | #1,210 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 1945 | #1,431 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1944 | #1,279 | 28 | 0.0021% |
| 1943 | #1,423 | 25 | 0.0018% |
| 1942 | #1,405 | 25 | 0.0018% |
| 1941 | #969 | 44 | 0.0036% |
| 1940 | #962 | 45 | 0.0039% |
| 1939 | #913 | 47 | 0.0042% |
| 1938 | #1,002 | 41 | 0.0037% |
| 1937 | #1,258 | 29 | 0.0027% |
| 1936 | #1,003 | 40 | 0.0039% |
| 1935 | #1,090 | 36 | 0.0035% |
| 1934 | #1,087 | 37 | 0.0036% |
| 1933 | #1,069 | 38 | 0.0038% |
| 1932 | #1,153 | 35 | 0.0034% |
| 1931 | #1,093 | 39 | 0.0038% |
| 1930 | #1,209 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1929 | #1,123 | 39 | 0.0036% |
| 1928 | #1,182 | 37 | 0.0033% |
| 1927 | #1,142 | 40 | 0.0035% |
| 1926 | #1,209 | 36 | 0.0032% |
| 1925 | #1,138 | 39 | 0.0035% |
| 1924 | #1,168 | 39 | 0.0034% |
| 1923 | #1,372 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1922 | #1,859 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1921 | #2,030 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1920 | #1,854 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #1,372 | 28 | 0.0029% |
| 1918 | #2,041 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #1,788 | 18 | 0.0019% |
| 1916 | #1,629 | 20 | 0.0022% |
| 1915 | #1,641 | 19 | 0.0022% |
| 1914 | #1,739 | 14 | 0.0021% |
| 1913 | #1,354 | 16 | 0.0031% |
| 1912 | #2,175 | 7 | 0.0016% |
| 1911 | #1,098 | 11 | 0.0049% |
| 1910 | #913 | 13 | 0.0067% |
| 1909 | #997 | 10 | 0.0061% |
| 1908 | #1,087 | 8 | 0.0052% |
| 1907 | #976 | 9 | 0.0061% |
| 1906 | #976 | 8 | 0.0060% |
| 1905 | #1,184 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1902 | #901 | 8 | 0.0065% |
| 1901 | #826 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1900 | #945 | 9 | 0.0060% |
| 1899 | #834 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1898 | #957 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1897 | #1,023 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1896 | #806 | 9 | 0.0075% |
| 1895 | #779 | 9 | 0.0077% |
| 1894 | #921 | 7 | 0.0060% |
| 1893 | #808 | 8 | 0.0071% |
| 1890 | #1,100 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #631 | 11 | 0.0091% |
| 1887 | #1,010 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1886 | #813 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1885 | #1,034 | 5 | 0.0046% |
| 1883 | #668 | 9 | 0.0086% |
| 1882 | #629 | 10 | 0.0088% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Martha
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Martha Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Martha's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Martha's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.