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Origin, Meaning, And History Of Martin
The name Martin originates from the Latin Martinus, which was derived from Martis, a name for the Roman God Mars. Mars is second to Jupiter in Roman mythology and is considered extremely powerful. He is the god of war and fertility in agriculture. The name signifies both power and benevolence. Coincidentally, the month of March is named after Mars as well.
Martin is of Celtic origin. The Christian saint Martin of Tours was one of the first known famous persons with this name. He is the patron saint of France. He was known for his kindness. His generosity and compassion made him a renowned saint in Middle Ages Christianity. He arrived in England with William, the king of Normandy, in 1066, and his family grew there. Later, they traveled to Ireland and settled there as well.
In the early 1600s, John Martin was the first councilman of Jamestown, and Christopher Martin was one of the pioneers on the “Mayflower.” They carried the name Martin to America. The name Martin gained immense popularity in the Middle Ages across Europe. It is a prevalent name in Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Scandinavian countries, Germany, and France.
In Ireland, it is a baptismal name from the Gaelic Ó Mártain that means ‘son of Martin’. In several countries, Martin is used with slight variations such as Martyn, Kilmartin, MacGilmartin, Marcin, Martini, Martinčič, and Marton. Martin is a common surname in some of these areas too.
Though Martin is a boy’s name, several girl names are also inspired by it. Girl names such as Martina, Martine, and Tina are some examples.
Martin has been famous in popular culture. It was the name of Candide’s friend in Candide (1795) by Voltaire. Mike Martin is the protagonist in two books, “The Afghan” and “The Fist of God” by Frederick Forsyth. In movies, Martin Seamus “Marty” McFly is a famous character in the franchise “Back to the Future”. Martin Prince Jr. is a recurring character who is brilliant and is a friend of Bart Simpson in the popular TV series “The Simpsons.”
How To Pronounce Martin?
Famous People With The Name Martin
- Martin Luther KingAmerican minister and activist in the Civil Rights Movement
- Martin ScorceseAn Italian-American director with a career of over 50 years and several awards
- Martin Van BurenThe eighth President of the US
- Martin LutherA German priest who started the Protestant Reformation in Christianity
- Martin LawrenceAn American actor, comedian, and talk show host known for his roles in Bad Boys and Blue Streak
- Martin FreemanEnglish actor known for his role as Bilbo Baggins in Hobbit and Dr. John Watson in Sherlock
Martin On The Popularity Chart
Martin has been popular since the Middle Ages. It has seen many ups and downs in its time. These SSA charts show how the name has fared over the years.
Popularity Over Time
Throughout the 80s, Martin saw a gradual growth in popularity that peaked in 1990, with 3,079 babies per million being given this name. Later, it gradually decreased in popularity with a sudden spike in 2006. In 2021, 1,089 babies per million were named Martin. Check the graph for details.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
In 1983, Martin ranked 12,192, one of its highest ranks in the last century. While the rank was lowest in 2007 at 20,780, it improved gradually, finally ranking 17,740 in 2020. The graph below will give you a clear picture.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Martin
These names may have different meanings but sound surprisingly similar to Martin. Check the options given below.
Names With Similar Meaning As Martin
If you liked the meaning of Martin but are looking for another name that means the same, here are some options for you.
Name Numerology For Martin
