Martin
From Middle English Martin, from Latin Mārtīnus (“of or like Mars” or “little Mars”), Mārs, Mārtis + -īnus (diminutive suffix).
Every Martin since 1880 — 317,037 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Martin
Martin is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #335 in 2025 with 1,009 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 317,037 American babies have been named Martin. Its peak came in 1963, when 6,091 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
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 Martin stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Martin 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 | — | — | 1,009 | #335 |
| 2024 | — | — | 1,105 | #308 |
| 2023 | — | — | 1,152 | #289 |
| 2022 | — | — | 1,108 | #303 |
| 2021 | — | — | 1,103 | #301 |
| 2020 | — | — | 1,168 | #293 |
| 2019 | — | — | 1,253 | #281 |
| 2018 | — | — | 1,296 | #272 |
| 2017 | — | — | 1,283 | #282 |
| 2016 | — | — | 1,396 | #258 |
| 2015 | — | — | 1,344 | #275 |
| 2014 | 5 | #18,274 | 1,434 | #259 |
| 2013 | — | — | 1,346 | #265 |
| 2012 | — | — | 1,350 | #265 |
| 2011 | — | — | 1,321 | #262 |
| 2010 | — | — | 1,333 | #257 |
| 2009 | — | — | 1,526 | #234 |
| 2008 | — | — | 1,700 | #221 |
| 2007 | 6 | #16,843 | 1,881 | #208 |
| 2006 | 5 | #19,033 | 1,942 | #199 |
| 2005 | 8 | #12,592 | 1,836 | #206 |
| 2004 | — | — | 1,858 | #203 |
| 2003 | — | — | 1,889 | #198 |
| 2002 | 7 | #13,121 | 1,959 | #192 |
| 2001 | 5 | #16,992 | 2,061 | #182 |
| 2000 | — | — | 2,110 | #175 |
| 1995 | 14 | #6,492 | 2,398 | #147 |
| 1990 | 26 | #3,968 | 3,080 | #113 |
| 1985 | 23 | #3,686 | 2,136 | #132 |
| 1980 | 22 | #3,679 | 2,227 | #123 |
| 1975 | 15 | #4,279 | 2,162 | #119 |
| 1970 | 19 | #3,382 | 3,500 | #93 |
| 1965 | 26 | #2,383 | 4,932 | #67 |
| 1960 | 15 | #3,304 | 5,495 | #77 |
| 1955 | 20 | #2,520 | 5,068 | #77 |
| 1950 | 11 | #3,357 | 4,180 | #85 |
| 1945 | 7 | #3,900 | 2,823 | #90 |
| 1940 | 10 | #2,891 | 2,423 | #85 |
| 1935 | 15 | #2,176 | 2,116 | #93 |
| 1930 | 16 | #2,171 | 2,322 | #83 |
| 1925 | 13 | #2,722 | 2,417 | #83 |
| 1920 | 10 | #3,262 | 2,439 | #78 |
| 1915 | 16 | #2,017 | 2,070 | #79 |
| 1910 | 7 | #2,058 | 396 | #86 |
| 1905 | — | — | 332 | #75 |
| 1900 | — | — | 383 | #70 |
| 1895 | — | — | 317 | #65 |
| 1890 | 5 | #1,460 | 347 | #58 |
| 1885 | — | — | 357 | #49 |
| 1880 | — | — | 357 | #45 |
Famous people named Martin
- Martin Luther Religious figure · 1483–1546
- Martin Van Buren Politician · 1782–1862
- Martin Scorsese Film director · b. 1942
- Martin Heidegger Philosopher · 1889–1976
- Martin Luther King Jr. Social activist · 1929–1968
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Martin mean?
From Middle English Martin, from Latin Mārtīnus (“of or like Mars” or “little Mars”), Mārs, Mārtis + -īnus (diminutive suffix).
How popular is the name Martin in 2025?
Martin ranked #335 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,009 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Martin?
317,037 babies have been named Martin in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Martin most popular?
Martin peaked in 1963, when 6,091 newborns received the name.
Is Martin a boy or girl name?
Martin is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Martin rising or falling?
Martin has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Martin?
Well-known people named Martin include Martin Luther (religious figure), Martin Van Buren (politician), Martin Scorsese (film director).