Martha
Say it: MAR-tha
GirlMeans usually explained as "lady" or "mistress"6 letters2 syllables
#352
in Ireland (2025)
#353 with spellings combined
11
babies in 2025
#116
best rank (1964)
1,653
babies since 1964
Down 183
10-year rank change
Martha through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #353 |
| 2024 | 17 | #248 |
| 2023 | 9 | #394 |
| 2022 | 20 | #222 |
| 2021 | 12 | #339 |
| 2020 | 22 | #207 |
| 2019 | 13 | #322 |
| 2018 | 20 | #235 |
| 2017 | 20 | #241 |
| 2016 | 16 | #289 |
| 2015 | 34 | #170 |
| 2014 | 22 | #229 |
| 2013 | 33 | #172 |
| 2012 | 31 | #184 |
| 2011 | 24 | #220 |
| 2010 | 26 | #216 |
| 2009 | 29 | #201 |
| 2008 | 38 | #164 |
| 2007 | 29 | #189 |
| 2006 | 31 | #161 |
| 2005 | 24 | #184 |
| 2004 | 25 | #170 |
| 2003 | 19 | #200 |
| 2002 | 22 | #176 |
| 2001 | 19 | #196 |
| 2000 | 19 | #188 |
| 1999 | 21 | #171 |
| 1998 | 14 | #213 |
| 1997 | 26 | #176 |
| 1996 | 24 | #187 |
| 1995 | 14 | #250 |
| 1994 | 24 | #174 |
| 1993 | 23 | #184 |
| 1992 | 28 | #168 |
| 1991 | 20 | #197 |
| 1990 | 20 | #203 |
| 1989 | 22 | #192 |
| 1988 | 18 | #222 |
| 1987 | 31 | #164 |
| 1986 | 34 | #162 |
| 1985 | 34 | #162 |
| 1984 | 31 | #181 |
| 1983 | 32 | #179 |
| 1982 | 29 | #190 |
| 1981 | 28 | #203 |
| 1980 | 28 | #197 |
| 1979 | 33 | #181 |
| 1978 | 37 | #177 |
| 1977 | 28 | #193 |
| 1976 | 28 | #196 |
| 1975 | 34 | #174 |
| 1974 | 33 | #183 |
| 1973 | 33 | #180 |
| 1972 | 36 | #164 |
| 1971 | 33 | #169 |
| 1970 | 32 | #160 |
| 1969 | 43 | #139 |
| 1968 | 33 | #155 |
| 1967 | 46 | #121 |
| 1966 | 29 | #154 |
| 1965 | 44 | #125 |
| 1964 | 45 | #116 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Martha mean?
Usually explained as "lady" or "mistress"
Aramaic, through Greek and Latin, from the New Testament.
Say it right
MARtha
The story of Martha
Martha comes from Aramaic, the everyday language of Jesus’s time. It is the feminine form of a word for lord or master, so it is usually explained as “lady” or “mistress”. It reached English through Greek and Latin.
In the New Testament Martha is the sister of Mary and Lazarus in the village of Bethany. She is the practical one, busy looking after guests, and she is honoured as St Martha. That picture of a hard-working host has stuck to her ever since.
Martha was already in use in Ireland when the CSO records begin. Its biggest year was 1967, with 46 babies, and it has been given to a steady number of girls every year since. It is more popular in Northern Ireland, where it was number 84 in 2025 and reached number 76 in 2023.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Martha (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Martha (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Mattie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Martha | 11 | 1,653 |
In Northern Ireland
#84 in 2025 with 25 babies. Best rank #76 (2023); 403 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.