Martel
Meaninghammer · French
- US rank
- #9,714
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,144 in 1983
7 babies were named Martel in the US in 2025. It has dropped 3,418 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1973–2025
US births per million boys, 1920–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Martel you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 243,902 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Martel, 7 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Martel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMartel first shows up in US birth records in 1920, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 105 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1983, when it ranked #1,144. Today it's #9,714, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowMartel was 3.5× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 69,930 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 243,902.
- TrendMartel has slipped 3,418 places over the last five years and now sits at #9,714. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn French, Martel means “hammer”.
About the name Martel
Martel is a boy name of Latin origin meaning “hammer”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-tel”. US birth records list Martel for boys from 1920 to 2025, in 71 of those 106 years. Its best year was 1983, when it ranked #1,144 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #9,714, with 7 babies.
Origin:Latin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5 | 2,058,824 girls |
| 1980s | 1.5 | 666,667 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 2.1 | 476,190 boys |
| 1940s | 1.0 | 990,099 boys |
| 1950s | 0.6 | 1,754,386 boys |
| 1960s | 2.7 | 371,747 boys |
| 1970s | 7.2 | 139,082 boys |
| 1980s | 27 | 37,453 boys |
| 1990s | 25 | 39,541 boys |
| 2000s | 12 | 80,972 boys |
| 2010s | 9.3 | 107,066 boys |
| 2020s | 6.0 | 167,598 boys |
Other spellings of Martel
More Latin boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Theodore · gift of God
- Boy name: Lucas · man from Lucania
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Unisex name: Luca · man from Lucania
- Boy name: Sebastian · venerable
- Boy name: Leo · lion
- Boy name: Alexander · defender of men
Questions about the name Martel
What does the name Martel mean?
Martel means “hammer” in French.
What is the origin of the name Martel?
Martel has Latin roots in our records. Other Latin names include Oliver, Theodore, Lucas.
Is Martel a boy or girl name?
Martel is a boy name.
How popular is the name Martel?
Martel ranked #9,714 for US boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1983 (#1,144).