Martin
Boy name · English · French · Latin
Meaningof Mars · Latin
- US rank
- #335
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #44 in 1880
1,009 babies were named Martin in the US in 2025. It has dropped 42 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Martin you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Martin
Martin Luther King Jr.
American Baptist minister and civil rights leader (1929–1968)
Choose Martin and your child shares a first name with Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and civil rights leader. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Martin, like who?” Martin Luther King Jr.'s Wikipedia article is available in 248 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Martin Luther King Jr. on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Associated Press, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,693 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Martin, 1,009 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Martin would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMartin has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Martins, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #44. Today it's #335, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendMartin has slipped 42 places over the last five years and now sits at #335. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedMartin is most popular in Washington, D.C., where it ranks #82, followed by Arizona (#203) and California (#203). It's in the top 1,000 in 36 states.
- MeaningIn Latin, Martin means “of Mars”. Our records link it to English, French and Latin roots.
About the name Martin
Martin is a boy name of English, French and Latin origin meaning “of Mars”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-tin”. US birth records list Martin for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #44 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #335, with 1,009 babies.
Origin:English namesFrench namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,284 | 304 boys |
| 1890s | 2,856 | 350 boys |
| 1900s | 2,482 | 403 boys |
| 1910s | 2,401 | 417 boys |
| 1920s | 2,201 | 454 boys |
| 1930s | 2,075 | 482 boys |
| 1940s | 2,110 | 474 boys |
| 1950s | 2,516 | 397 boys |
| 1960s | 2,535 | 394 boys |
| 1970s | 1,463 | 683 boys |
| 1980s | 1,256 | 796 boys |
| 1990s | 1,297 | 771 boys |
| 2000s | 941 | 1,063 boys |
| 2010s | 710 | 1,408 boys |
| 2020s | 641 | 1,559 boys |
Other spellings of Martin
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Martin
What does the name Martin mean?
Martin means “of Mars” in Latin.
What is the origin of the name Martin?
Martin has English, French, Latin roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Martin a boy or girl name?
Martin is a boy name.
How popular is the name Martin?
Martin ranked #335 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,009 babies. Its best year was 1880 (#44).