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    The first name Mortimer

    A boy’s name meaning “dead pond”.

    Pronounced /ˈmɔɹtəmɚ/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Mortimer means “dead pond”.

    A habitational surname from Mortemer in France, from Old Northern French, literally meaning “dead pond”.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Mortimer last appeared in the official list in 2019, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2018, with 7 births (#2,693).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    51
    babies named Mortimer, 1996–2025
    #4,702
    rank in 2019
    2018
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Mortimer with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Mortimer at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2023, 5 boys born in the United States were named Mortimer, the 13,528th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1916, when 91 were.

    050100 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    1,943
    babies named Mortimer since 1880
    #13,528
    rank in 2023
    1916
    peak year

    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.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Mortymer

    Famous people named Mortimer

    13 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Mortimer J. Adler
      American philosopher, author and educator (1902–2001)
    • Mortimer Wheeler
      British archaeologist (1890-1976)
    • Mortimer Zuckerman
      American businessman, born 1937
    • Mortimer Collins
      British writer (1827–1876)
    • Mortimer von Kessel
      German general (1893-1981)
    • John Mortimer Smith
      Catholic bishop (1935-2019)
    • Mortimer Taube
      American librarian (1910–1965)
    • Mortimer R. Proctor
      American politician (1889–1968)
    • Mortimer Menpes
      Australian-born artist, author, printmaker and illustrator (1855-1938)
    • George Pullman
      Engineer and businessman from the United States (1831-1897)
    • Mort Shuman
      American songwriter (1938–1991)
    • Walter Mirisch
      American film producer (1921–2023)

    Questions

    What does the name Mortimer mean?
    Mortimer means “dead pond”.
    How popular is the name Mortimer?
    In 2019, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Mortimer, ranking 4,702nd. Its peak was 2018, with 7 births.
    Is Mortimer a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 1,943 US babies named Mortimer since 1880 were boys.
    When was Mortimer most popular?
    1916 in the United States, when 91 babies were named Mortimer, its highest rank at 613th.
    How do you pronounce Mortimer?
    Mortimer is /ˈmɔɹtəmɚ/, 3 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Mortimer?
    Mortymer.
    Is Mortimer also a surname?
    Yes. Mortimer is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.