The first name Martin
A boy’s name from Latin meaning “of”, “like mars”, “little mars”.
Pronounced /ˈmɑː.tɪn/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Martin means “of”, “like mars”, “little mars” in Latin.
From Middle English Martin, from Latin Mārtīnus (“of or like Mars” or “little Mars”), Mārs, Mārtis + -īnus (diminutive suffix). See Mārs for further etymology.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 115 boys were named Martin, making it the 363rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 435 births (#109).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Martin with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Martin at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 1,009 boys born in the United States were named Martin, the 335th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1963, when 6,073 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.
Martin in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Martin in Czech, Danish, Estonian, French, German, Norwegian, Romanian and Swedish too.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Martin
Famous people named Martin
790 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Martin Luther King Jr.American Baptist minister and civil rights leader (1929–1968)
- Martin ScorseseAmerican filmmaker (born 1942)
- Martin LandauAmerican actor (1928–2017)
- Martin of ToursChristian saint, 316–397
- Martin BuberGerman Jewish Existentialist philosopher and theologian (1878–1965)
- Martin BormannGerman Nazi Party official and head of the Nazi Party Chancellery (1900–1945)
- Martin WeinekAustrian actor, character actor, wine producer, entrepreneur and entertainer, born 1964
- Martin RyleEnglish radio astronomer (1918–1984)
- Martin Lewis PerlAmerican scientist (1927–2014)
- Martin LawrenceAmerican actor and comedian (born 1965)
- Martin FreemanEnglish actor, born 1971
- Martin AmisBritish novelist (1949–2023)
More Latin boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Martin mean?
- Martin means “of”, “like mars”, “little mars” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Martin?
- From Middle English Martin, from Latin Mārtīnus (“of or like Mars” or “little Mars”), Mārs, Mārtis + -īnus (diminutive suffix). See Mārs for further etymology.
- How popular is the name Martin?
- In 2025, 115 boys born in England and Wales were named Martin, ranking 363rd. Its peak was 1996, with 435 births.
- What are nicknames for Martin?
- Common nicknames for Martin include Mart.
- Is Martin a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 317,037 US babies named Martin since 1880 were boys.
- When was Martin most popular?
- 1963 in the United States, when 6,073 babies were named Martin, its highest rank at 62nd.
- How do you pronounce Martin?
- Martin is /ˈmɑː.tɪn/, 2 syllables.
- Is Martin also a surname?
- Yes. Martin is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.