Martha
A female given name from Aramaic of biblical origin.
Every Martha since 1880 — 553,732 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Martha
Martha is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #713 in 2025 with 393 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 553,732 American babies have been named Martha. Its peak came in 1947, when 10,673 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Martha stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Martha year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 393 | #713 | — | — |
| 2024 | 435 | #666 | — | — |
| 2023 | 439 | #671 | — | — |
| 2022 | 405 | #724 | — | — |
| 2021 | 395 | #725 | — | — |
| 2020 | 354 | #767 | — | — |
| 2019 | 349 | #794 | — | — |
| 2018 | 349 | #784 | — | — |
| 2017 | 376 | #746 | — | — |
| 2016 | 397 | #717 | — | — |
| 2015 | 367 | #772 | — | — |
| 2014 | 383 | #735 | — | — |
| 2013 | 344 | #793 | — | — |
| 2012 | 392 | #714 | — | — |
| 2011 | 374 | #739 | — | — |
| 2010 | 412 | #693 | — | — |
| 2009 | 451 | #658 | — | — |
| 2008 | 505 | #606 | — | — |
| 2007 | 531 | #566 | — | — |
| 2006 | 583 | #519 | — | — |
| 2005 | 601 | #503 | — | — |
| 2004 | 603 | #487 | — | — |
| 2003 | 640 | #466 | — | — |
| 2002 | 718 | #405 | — | — |
| 2001 | 759 | #384 | — | — |
| 2000 | 788 | #373 | — | — |
| 1995 | 928 | #299 | 11 | #5,386 |
| 1990 | 1,267 | #224 | 16 | #3,717 |
| 1985 | 1,221 | #211 | 19 | #2,665 |
| 1980 | 1,555 | #178 | 14 | #3,193 |
| 1975 | 1,792 | #149 | 14 | #2,853 |
| 1970 | 2,368 | #143 | 14 | #2,589 |
| 1965 | 3,801 | #99 | 16 | #2,045 |
| 1960 | 5,831 | #83 | 18 | #1,954 |
| 1955 | 7,930 | #53 | 19 | #1,829 |
| 1950 | 9,839 | #32 | 15 | #1,994 |
| 1945 | 8,752 | #30 | 22 | #1,431 |
| 1940 | 8,695 | #26 | 45 | #962 |
| 1935 | 7,621 | #24 | 36 | #1,090 |
| 1930 | 7,832 | #27 | 35 | #1,209 |
| 1925 | 8,762 | #23 | 39 | #1,138 |
| 1920 | 8,709 | #23 | 19 | #1,854 |
| 1915 | 7,216 | #25 | 19 | #1,641 |
| 1910 | 2,858 | #28 | 13 | #913 |
| 1905 | 2,091 | #32 | 6 | #1,184 |
| 1900 | 2,437 | #28 | 9 | #945 |
| 1895 | 2,096 | #25 | 9 | #779 |
| 1890 | 1,784 | #22 | 5 | #1,100 |
| 1885 | 1,425 | #17 | 5 | #1,034 |
| 1880 | 1,040 | #16 | — | — |
Famous people named Martha
- Martha Argerich Musician · b. 1941
- Martha Graham Dancer · 1894–1991
- Martha Gellhorn Writer · 1908–1998
- Martha Washington Companion · 1731–1802
- Martha Nussbaum Philosopher · b. 1947
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Martha mean?
A female given name from Aramaic of biblical origin.
How popular is the name Martha in 2025?
Martha ranked #713 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 393 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Martha?
553,732 babies have been named Martha in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Martha most popular?
Martha peaked in 1947, when 10,673 newborns received the name.
Is Martha a boy or girl name?
Martha is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Martha rising or falling?
Martha is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Martha?
Well-known people named Martha include Martha Argerich (musician), Martha Graham (dancer), Martha Gellhorn (writer).