The first name Martha
A girl’s name from Aramaic meaning “mistress”.
Pronounced /ˈmɑɹθə/ 2 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Aramaic origin
Martha means “mistress” in Aramaic.
* From Latin Martha, from Ancient Greek Μάρθα (Mártha), from Aramaic מָרְתָא (mārtā, “mistress”), feminine of מרא (mārā). Doublet of Marfa. * (humidity chamber): From the use of Martha Stewart-branded storage closets in the construction of early units.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 302 girls were named Martha, making it the 164th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 868 births (#67).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Martha with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Martha at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 393 girls born in the United States were named Martha, the 713th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1947, when 10,651 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Martha in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Martha in Danish, Dutch and German too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Martha
104 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Martha WashingtonFirst Lady of the United States from 1789 to 1797
- Martha ArgerichArgentine pianist (1941-)
- Martha GrahamAmerican dancer and choreographer (1894–1991)
- Martha StewartAmerican businesswoman, writer, TV personality (born 1941)
- Martha NussbaumAmerican philosopher (born 1947)
- Princess Märtha of SwedenCrown Princess of Norway (1901–1954)
- Martha Jefferson RandolphFirst Lady of the United States from 1801 to 1809
- Martha ScottAmerican actress (1912–2003)
- Martha ChaseAmerican geneticist, 1927–2003
- Martha PlimptonAmerican actress, born 1970
- Martha McSallyAmerican politician and military pilot (born 1966)
- Martha HyerAmerican actress (1924–2014)
Questions
- What does the name Martha mean?
- Martha means “mistress” in Aramaic.
- What is the origin of the name Martha?
- * From Latin Martha, from Ancient Greek Μάρθα (Mártha), from Aramaic מָרְתָא (mārtā, “mistress”), feminine of מרא (mārā). Doublet of Marfa. * (humidity chamber): From the use of Martha Stewart-branded storage closets in the construction of early units.
- How popular is the name Martha?
- In 2025, 302 girls born in England and Wales were named Martha, ranking 164th. Its peak was 2015, with 868 births.
- What are nicknames for Martha?
- Common nicknames for Martha include Mattie, Patsy, Marty.
- Is Martha a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 553,732 US babies named Martha since 1880 were girls.
- When was Martha most popular?
- 1947 in the United States, when 10,651 babies were named Martha, its highest rank at 32nd.
- How do you pronounce Martha?
- Martha is /ˈmɑɹθə/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Martha?
- Marta.