Martha

mahr-thuh

Aramaic

"lady"

Martha Origin and Meaning

The name Martha is a girl's name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady".

The name of our first First Lady still has something of a prim and proper image, academic and efficient. That quiet, traditional, and tasteful gestalt is exactly what makes Martha appealing to some parents today.

The New Testament Martha, sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany, was a solicitous housekeeper who looked after the material welfare of Jesus when he was a guest in her home. For this reason Martha has since been identified with domestic labor and hospitality and is the patron saint of housewives, waiters, and cooks (a la Martha Stewart, who shares her name with her mother).

Martha has been a royal name in Scandinavia, the subject of Beatles song "Martha My Dear," and is also associated with the New England island Martha's Vineyard. Livelier foreign forms that have been used in this country include Marta, Martine, and Martina.

Modern dancer/choreographer Martha Graham would make a notable namesake for a dance aficionado.

Martha Rank in US Top 1000

# 673 in the US

Martha Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 609 on Nameberry

Martha Popularity

• 673 US 2023
• 609 Nameberry 2024
• 111 England 2023
• 153 Scotland 2022
• 75 Germany 2023
• 210 Mexico 2021

20 Names Similar to Martha

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Martha.

• Mary
• Ruth
• Betty
• Dorothy
• Mildred
• Esther
• Agnes
• Harriet
• Lois
• Edith
• Virginia
• Margaret
• Miriam
• Nancy
• Tabitha
• Maude
• Helen
• Betsy
• Louisa
• Maud

Famous People Named Martha

• Saint Martha of Bethany Biblical figure
• Martha Dandridge Washington first First Lady of the U.S. as wife of George Washington
• Martha Parkes Custis daughter of Martha Washington and Daniel Custis
• Martha Helen Stewart American lifestyle guru and businesswoman
• Märtha Sofia Lovisa Dagmar Thyra of Sweden Crown Princess of Norway as wife of future King Olav V
• Märtha Louise Princess of Norway
• Martha Layne Collins American politician, former governor of Kentucky
• Martha Rose Reeves singer of American group Martha & the Vandellas
• Martha Hunt American model and Victoria's Secret Angel
• Martha Streck Brazilian model
• Martha Graham American dancer and choreographer
• Martha Raye (born Margy Reed) American comedienne and singer
• Martha Hyer American actress
• Martha Bruce Countess of Elgin and Kincardine
• Martha Ellis Gelhorn American novelist, once,wife of novelist Ernest Hemingway
• Martha Finley American children's author
• Martha Craven Nussbaum American philosopher
• Martha Campbell Plimpton American actress
• Martha Alice Brown granddaughter of guitarist Jimmy Page
• Martha Collison English baker
• Martha Wainwright Canadian singer
• Martha Burns Canadian actress

Martha in Pop Culture

• Martha Jones companion on TV's "Doctor Who"
• Martha Levinson character on TV's "Downton Abbey"
• "Martha Marcy May Marlene " 2011 movie and main character
• Martha M. Masters character on TV's "House"
• Martha Jane MacKenzie character on Australian soap "Home & Away"
• Martha Tenant character on TV's "Love Child"
• Martha character in the children's book "Half,Magic" by Edward Eager
• "George & Martha " children's book and TV series about two hippos
• Martha Stanley character in movie "The Proposition"
• Martha Bellison character in movie "The Invention of Lying"
• Martha Bullock character on TV's "Deadwood"
• Martha Wayne mother of Batman
• Martha Kent (nee Clark) adoptive mother of Superman
• Martha Kane character on British soap "Hollyoaks"
• Martha character in movie "Hotel Transylvania'
• Martha Dunnstock character from the movie/musical 'Heathers'
• Martha dog in book series and PBS show, "Martha Speaks"
• Martha Sowerby character in "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Martha character in G. A. Henty's, For the Temple
• Martha Zolanski music video character created by singer Nicki Minaj
• Martha Quimby character on TV's "The Simpsons"
• "Martha My Dear," song by The Beatles
• Martha's Vineyard island in Massachusetts, USA
• Martha Steward character in J.K. Rowling's "Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"
• Martha Hudson character on TV's BBC series "Sherlock"
• Martha character in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes short story "His Last Bow"
• Martha Brady character on TV show "The Brady Bunch"
• Martha Boyle main character of "Olive's Ocean" by Kevin Henkes
• Martha Morse title character of "The Martha Years" book series by Melissa Wiley
• Martha protagonist of the Black Mirror Episode "Be Right Back"
• Martha Kaply character in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level