Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!

Martha as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Martha

♡Add to my Name List

The baby name Martha is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmɑrθə/ (American English),/ˈmɑːθə/ (British English, RP),MAR-thuh (common anglicized).

Martha is Aramaic in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Aramaic
Pronunciation: /ˈmɑrθə/ (American English),/ˈmɑːθə/ (British English, RP),MAR-thuh (common anglicized)

What is the meaning of the name Martha ?

The baby name Martha is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmɑrθə/ (American English),/ˈmɑːθə/ (British English, RP),MAR-thuh (common anglicized).

Martha is Aramaic in Origin.

Martha derives from the Aramaic Martā (מרתא), meaning “lady” or “mistress,” a title of respect akin to “the lady of the house.” The name entered Greek and Latin as Martha (Μάρθα), retaining its sense of authority and domestic stewardship. In the New Testament, Martha of Bethany, sister of Mary and Lazarus, is celebrated for hospitality and practical service; she is honored as a saint in many Christian traditions.

Adopted across Europe, Martha gained particular momentum in Protestant England and colonial America, later boosted in the public imagination by figures such as Martha Washington and, in the arts, Martha Graham. Its popularity in the United States peaked around the early 20th century and has since cycled into vintage revival. International variants include Marta (Spanish, Italian, Polish, Portuguese), Marthe (French), Märta (Swedish), Marfa (Russian), and Márta (Hungarian). Diminutives include Mattie, Marty, and Martie.

Martha has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Martha

Martha Washington Politician · Born 1731 · United States Martha Washington is best known as the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States, and is often remembered as the nation’s first First Lady. Born Martha Dandridge Custis, she lived from 1731 to 1802 and was a prominent figure in early American history. Martha Wainwright Musician · Born 1976 · Canada Martha Wainwright is a Canadian musician known for her soulful voice and songwriting talent. She gained fame with songs like 'Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole' and 'When the Day is Short'. Born in 1976, she comes from a family of musicians and has carved out her own successful career in the music industry. Martha Reeves Musician · Born 1941 · United States Martha Reeves is best known as the lead singer of the Motown group Martha and the Vandellas. She is an American R&B and pop singer known for hits like "Dancing in the Street," "Heat Wave," and "Nowhere to Run."

Celebrity babies named Martha

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Martha West Dominic West film director ★★★★★
Martha Gehman Estelle Parsons film director ★★★★★

Martha – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2025 #1 — 411
NA Girls 0 #2 1,639 7,146
NA 0 #3 39 2,537
BO Girls 0 #6 6,604 9,488
CO Girls 0 #8 62,558 16,140
EC Girls 0 #9 738 3,650
FJ Girls 0 #9 1 583
MX Girls 0 #9 38,072 17,781
ET Girls 0 #15 2 372
KR Girls 0 #15 1 572
SV Girls 0 #15 4 458
BW 0 #19 1 960
HN Girls 0 #20 17 884
HN 0 #22 1 704
KR Boys 0 #27 1 897
BW Girls 0 #28 151 4,216
PE Girls 0 #29 11,085 14,861
CO 0 #30 3,332 7,768
BI Girls 0 #31 3 726
CR Girls 0 #33 2,159 11,342
ID 0 #34 6 2,238
MV Girls 0 #34 2 2,021
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
MT 0 #39 5 1,767
EC 0 #41 81 2,502
ZA Girls 0 #42 7,700 25,928
BO 0 #50 725 6,868
PR 0 #50 6 1,497
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
CM 0 #53 4 2,592
MX 0 #53 994 8,339
CY 0 #57 4 1,632
GR Girls 0 #61 262 6,293
LU 0 #63 4 2,830
GH Girls 0 #66 846 6,973
UY Girls 0 #69 1,933 6,731
ID Girls 0 #74 25 3,319
JP 0 #75 3 4,057
AO 0 #76 2 2,729
CY Girls 0 #81 41 3,755
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
PA Girls 0 #86 843 9,861
CR 0 #89 70 5,526
MD Girls 0 #92 1 865
PA 0 #92 39 3,797
GR 0 #96 39 3,911
TW 0 #98 6 4,523
QA 0 #102 5 7,011
PH 0 #103 8 5,607
GE Girls 0 #107 2 1,564
NG Girls 0 #107 3,330 15,093
Norway Girls 2025 #108 19 453
BN Girls 0 #110 5 5,459
PE 0 #117 253 6,350
MT Girls 0 #118 34 3,773
PR Girls 0 #118 45 3,171
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
OM 0 #119 3 6,215
GH 0 #125 137 5,396
UY 0 #125 53 2,477
Switzerland Girls 2024 #131 5 1,786
MU 0 #134 4 3,613
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
Belgium Girls 2024 #142 44 424
EE Girls 0 #142 1 1,888
BW Boys 0 #150 5 4,685
AR Girls 0 #162 1,161 8,289
AR 0 #162 25 2,915
LU Girls 0 #168 18 4,850
Austria Girls 0 #170 427 1,885
Sweden Girls 2022 #173 7 1,568
GT Girls 0 #177 483 7,500
MT Boys 0 #178 2 4,064
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
AE 0 #182 6 10,220
CZ 0 #185 2 3,154
Austria 0 #188 26 850
AO Girls 0 #189 21 4,575
RU 0 #190 5 3,641
DK 0 #191 13 5,198
NG 0 #197 69 5,926
NA Boys 0 #199 37 6,830
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
JP Girls 0 #202 44 6,592
Spain Girls 0 #207 2,677 5,561
PL 0 #211 2 2,600
HU Girls 0 #220 6 3,308
PS 0 #221 6 5,692
AL Girls 0 #223 5 4,141
BG Girls 0 #227 5 3,559
EC Boys 0 #230 10 3,322
GT 0 #234 81 5,948
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
DK Girls 0 #236 82 7,429
PT 0 #237 10 4,161
MO Girls 0 #238 14 7,056
Canada Girls 2024 #239 47 2,795
BD 0 #240 2 5,992
JM Girls 0 #240 20 7,507
SD Girls 0 #243 104 7,678
NL Girls 0 #250 1,496 5,933
QA Girls 0 #251 66 15,378
TW Girls 0 #259 18 8,139
EG Girls 0 #261 1,851 14,742
IL 0 #261 14 6,291
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
SG 0 #275 8 11,010
Spain 0 #283 180 2,326
CM Girls 0 #284 297 11,671
HR Girls 0 #287 8 3,687
ZA 0 #289 159 14,421
JM Boys 0 #292 2 6,876
JO Girls 0 #301 25 7,570
BR 0 #304 42 5,969
NL 0 #305 87 2,481
SA 0 #306 7 10,560
OM Girls 0 #307 90 15,987
CL Girls 0 #309 975 14,098
CN Girls 0 #309 41 8,829
MY 0 #309 22 12,352
EG 0 #316 86 6,387
GH Boys 0 #320 26 8,138
PL Girls 0 #323 32 5,096
HK 0 #325 24 8,483
CZ Girls 0 #326 16 5,378
KZ Girls 0 #329 4 5,862
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
PH Girls 0 #336 55 13,098
MU Girls 0 #337 15 8,539
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
KW Girls 0 #341 176 19,177
France Girls 2021 #345 61 3,185
AE Girls 0 #362 193 20,968
CL 0 #367 45 6,867
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
Finland Girls 0 #373 19 1,368
PT Girls 0 #377 75 7,952
Germany 0 #382 56 2,542
UY Boys 0 #383 17 5,922
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
YE 0 #393 6 8,639
BD Girls 0 #398 9 8,413
Germany Girls 0 #404 593 4,949
SD Boys 0 #461 6 10,523
PS Girls 0 #462 62 10,981
RU Girls 0 #465 34 11,913
CR Boys 0 #467 21 10,188
SG Girls 0 #476 111 18,916
AR Boys 0 #478 6 7,628
IT Girls 0 #479 2,004 9,415
CO Boys 0 #482 581 15,656
GT Boys 0 #492 8 7,625
HK Girls 0 #492 124 16,104
BR Girls 0 #498 591 12,708
BO Boys 0 #501 92 9,244
PA Boys 0 #504 2 9,305
BH 0 #507 47 17,937
IR Girls 0 #515 16 8,334
IQ Girls 0 #517 9 11,303
United States Girls 2024 #520 431 8,487
IL Girls 0 #520 98 11,648
RU Boys 0 #525 2 12,621
CM Boys 0 #534 17 12,054
HK Boys 0 #554 4 12,905
LY 0 #555 5 12,703
LB 0 #558 101 13,263
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
IR Boys 0 #565 1 10,162
Finland Girls 2026 #581 166 3,895
IN Girls 0 #586 46 13,121
IT 0 #592 124 4,183
MX Boys 0 #621 403 16,355
IQ Boys 0 #647 21 13,071
MY Girls 0 #649 366 24,821
CL Boys 0 #696 5 13,390
SY 0 #716 13 11,684
SG Boys 0 #731 9 17,960
SA Girls 0 #733 203 25,931
QA Boys 0 #741 3 18,093
PE Boys 0 #756 123 14,506
KW Boys 0 #760 10 18,755
BR Boys 0 #782 4 12,213
TN 0 #818 12 13,765
EG Boys 0 #847 40 15,035
OM Boys 0 #868 14 17,948
NG Boys 0 #897 55 16,906
Spain Boys 0 #908 23 5,610
ZA Boys 0 #954 226 25,619
IN Boys 0 #1,031 9 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,080 13 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,086 26 25,439
MA 0 #1,115 14 20,986
DZ 0 #1,167 10 20,130
TR 0 #1,190 22 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,455 17 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,590 25 28,008

Martha is popular in 93 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Martha

Martha is predominantly a girl's name.
Martha is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈmɑrθə/ (American English),/ˈmɑːθə/ (British English, RP),MAR-thuh (common anglicized).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Marta, Marthe, Märta, Märtha, Marte and Martta.
Across languages, Martha has these equivalents: 'Greek': 'Μάρθα (Mártha), 'Hebrew/Aramaic': 'מרתא (Marta), 'Russian': 'Марфа (Marfa).
Yes, very popular — Martha ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 11 countries.
Martha ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Martha's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 3 notable people named Martha are in our database, including Martha Washington (Politician), Martha Wainwright (Musician), Martha Reeves (Musician).
Yes — at least 2 celebrity couples have chosen Martha for their child, including Dominic West.