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Martin

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAR-tin /ˈmɑːr.tɪn/High

Meaning: From the Latin Martinus, a derivative of Mars, the Roman god of war. The name thus means 'of Mars' or 'warlike', though it was made popular through peaceful Christian saints.High

In 30 seconds: Martin is a name that paradoxically means 'warlike' yet has been borne by some of history's greatest peacemakers — from Saint Martin of Tours to Martin Luther King Jr. Its two-syllable steadiness is timeless.
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Origin HighLatin
MeaningFrom the Latin Martinus, a derivative of Mars, the Roman god of war. The name thus means 'of Mars' or 'warlike', though it was made popular through peaceful Christian saints.
U.S. rank (2025)#335 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,009 boys (0.06% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1963
Total births (all-time)≈ 315,556

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196318802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Martin derives from the Latin Martinus, a derivative of Mars, the Roman god of war. Saint Martin of Tours (316–397 CE) was a Roman soldier who became a Christian and later Bishop of Tours; his legend of cutting his military cloak to share with a beggar became one of the most beloved saints' stories in medieval Europe. The name spread widely through his cult.

Martin was a top name across medieval Catholic Europe and has remained consistently popular in English, French, German, Spanish (Martín), and Slavic languages. In the twentieth century it gained additional resonance through Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968), the American civil rights leader, and through other prominent Martins in politics, science, and culture. Today it ranks in the US top 200 and is a consistent presence across European name charts.

Did you know? Martin Luther (1483–1546) was born Johann, but his father renamed him Martin after Saint Martin of Tours on the day of his baptism — so both the Protestant Reformation and the civil rights movement owe their iconic Martins to a medieval soldier-saint who gave away half his cloak to a beggar.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name: Martin — Latin etymology and saint's biographyOxford Dictionary of First Names — Historical usage across European languages

Variations

MartinoMaartenMartenMartinez

Nicknames

MartyMart

Famous Bearers

  • ★Saint Martin of Tours (316–397 CE)
    Roman soldier-turned-bishop of Tours, one of the most venerated saints in medieval Europe.
  • ★Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968)
    American civil rights leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and advocate of nonviolent resistance.

If you like Martin…

Julian— two-syllable Latin classic with Roman roots and the same steady, classic European presence
Vincent— two-syllable Latin saint's name with Roman roots and equivalent historical depth
Victor— two-syllable Latin name meaning 'conqueror' with the same Roman deity-adjacent etymology

Frequently Asked

What does the name Martin mean?

Martin means 'of Mars' or 'warlike', from the Latin Martinus, derived from Mars, the Roman god of war.

How do you pronounce Martin?

Martin is pronounced MAR-tin (/ˈmɑːr.tɪn/), two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Martin a boy or girl name?

Martin is a boy's name. Martina is the feminine equivalent.

How popular is Martin?

Martin has been in the US top 200 boys' names for most of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and ranks highly across Europe.