Martin

Latin
"warlike"

Martin Origin and Meaning

The name Martin is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "warlike".

Martin is one of those names like Arthur and Vincent and George that is in the process of throwing off its balding middle-aged image to start sounding possible again, used in full without the dated Marty nickname.

Notable Martins are too numerous to mention as the name has been so well used throughout time and in so many countries. Martin became part of the basic European stock of names, largely due to the popularity of the fourth century St. Martin of Tours. Also influential were the German founder of Protestantism Martin Luther and civil rights leader Martin Luther King (originally born Michael and renamed in honor of Martin Luther), eighth President Martin Van Buren, and influential philosophers Heidegger and Buber.

More current Martins include actors Sheen and Short, writer Amis, and director Scorsese.

Two books with eponymous Martin titles are Martin Chuzzlewit by Dickens and Martin Eden by Jack London.

Martin also is enjoying popularity in countries such as Chile, Spain and Austria.

Yes, a Martin revival appears to be right around the corner -- if only we can think of a new nickname.

# 289 in the US

Martin Rank in US Top 1000

# 402 on Nameberry

Martin Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Martin Popularity

Famous People Named Martin

  • Saint Martin
    Bishop of Tours, France
  • Martin Luther
    Protestant German reformer
  • Martin Van Buren
    8th U.S. president
  • Martin Luther King Jr.
    American civil rights campaigner
  • Martin Freeman
    English actor
  • Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence
    American comedic actor
  • Martin Charles Scorsese
    American film director
  • Martin Hayter Short
    Canadian actor
  • Martin John Christopher Freeman
    English actor
  • Martin Klein
    American science historian
  • Martin William Kratt
    American educational nature show host
  • Martin Dale Chambers
    drummer in rock band The Pretenders
  • Martin James Aldridge
    English professional footballer
  • Martin Starr
    American actor
  • Martin Lewis Perl
    American physicist and Nobel prize winner
  • Martin Rinkart
    German hymnist
  • Martin John Rees
    British cosmologist and astrophysicist
  • Martin James Landau
    American film & television actor
  • Martin Sheen (born Ramon Antonio Gerardo Estevez)
    American actor
  • Martin Garrix (born Martijn Garritsen)
    Dutch EDM Producer
  • (Alexander) Martin Clunes
    English actor
  • Martin Aronow (b. 2014)
    son of American actress Leelee Sobieski
  • Arnold Martin "Arnie" Kavalee (b.2017)
    son of Tiffiny Hall & Ed Kavalee
  • Martin Kahane (b. 1932) born Martin Kahane before changing his first name to Meir
    famously known as
  • Martin Jones
    Canadian hockey player for the NHL
  • Martin Gore
    songwriter for pop band Depeche Mode
  • Martin Allen (b. 1964)
    15 year old British boy who went and still is currently missing from the London Piccadilly area in 1979

Martin in Pop Culture

  • Martin Crane
    character on TV's "Frasier"
  • Martin Chuzzlewit
    Charles Dickens novel
  • Martin Bohm
    character on TV's "Touch"
  • Martin Mystery
    animated television show
  • Martin Kratt
    character in children's TV show "Wild Kratts"
  • Martin Q. Blank
    character in movie "Grosse Pointe Blank"
  • Martin Moone
    main character in "Moone Boy"
  • Martin Crieff
    pilot on BBC radio series "Cabin Pressure"
  • Martin "Marty" or "Deeks" Deeks
    character on TV's "NCIS: Los Angeles"
  • Martin the Warrior
    mouse character in Brian Jacques' "Redwall" series
  • Martin Septim
    character in the game "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion"
  • Dr. Martin Stein aka Firestorm
    character on TV's "The Flash" and "Legends of Tomorrow"
  • Martin Solloway
    character on TV's "The Affair"
  • Martin "Marty" Pauley
    character in "The Searchers"
  • Martin "Martyn" Taylor
    character in "After the Hole" and "The Hole"
  • Martin Jones
    character in "Too Old To Die Young"
  • Martin Archimbaud
    character in the game "Outlast"
  • Martin Riggs
    character in "Lethal Weapon"
  • Dr Martin Ellingham
    main character in "Doc Martin"
  • Martin Heiss
    character portrayed by Bill Murray in the 2016 "Ghostbusters" Film
  • Martin Prince
    nerdy character on "The Simpsons"
  • Martin Payne
    main character on the FOX 5 sitcom "Martin" played by Martin Lawrence
  • Martin Blackwood
    character on "The Magnus Archives"
  • Martin Cunningham
    character in James Joyce's "Dubliners" and "Ulysses"
  • Martin Whitly
    character on the show "Prodigal Son"