Martin

On the third Monday of every January, we celebrate a civil rights activist who became famous for his "I Have a Dream" speech. That activist was an African-American man, Martin Luther King jr. 

Martin was not the first to bear his name. Perhaps Martin has been a forename since antiquity. Martin comes from the Roman Martinus, which is related to the Roman god Mars. In addition, St. Martin of Tours lived about a century before the Middle Ages began. He was known for giving half his cloak to a beggar and dremaing about Jesus wearing half his cloak. 

St. Martin of Tours popularized his name throughout the Middle Ages. It continued to be popular after theologian Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation. Martin remained a top 100 name in England all the way through the 1980s. In the United States, Martin was in the top 100 through the 1960s. The assassination of Martin Luther King jr. in 1968 may have had an impact on his name. It has been declining since, but still ranks within the top 400. 

While the name is in decline, Martin still has several positive qualities. Not only is it a true classic with centuries of consistent use, but it's also regal and saintly. Plus, the name has been popular in several languages, including Swedish, Austrian, Norwegian, Spanish, and French. Parents who find Michael and Charles too popular can use Martin instead. 

NICKNAMES:

Mars

STYLES:

Solid, Timeless

SISTERS:

Ruth, Amy, Jane, Theresa, Ellen, Laura, Frances, Sylvia

BROTHERS:

Paul, Lawrence, Calvin, Roger, Stephen, Gregory, John, Michael

ALTERNATIVES:

Curtis, Franklin, Harold, Mitchell, Morton, Nelson, Quentin, Winston

FURTHER RESOURCES:

Kihm, Sophie. "Martin." Names, Nameberry, 12 Oct. 2023, https://nameberry.com/babyname/martin. 

"Martin." Names, Behind the Name, 21 Jan. 2022, https://www.behindthename.com/name/martin. 

What do you think about Martin?

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