Find out how popular the first name Marda has been for the last 38 years (from 1979 to 2016) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Marda by gender

Based on the last 38 years of data, Marda is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2016, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Marda.

The history of the first name Marda

The given name Marda is a diminutive form of the name Martha, which itself is derived from the Aramaic name "Marta" meaning "the lady" or "the mistress of the house." The name Marda likely originated in regions where Aramaic was spoken, such as ancient Syria, Mesopotamia, and parts of the Levant, sometime around the 1st century AD.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marda appears in the Codex Bezae, an ancient Greek manuscript from the 5th century AD, which contains a variant spelling of the name Martha as "Marda." This suggests that the diminutive form Marda was in use during the early Christian era.

In the Middle Ages, the name Marda was particularly popular among various Germanic tribes, such as the Franks and the Lombards, who likely adopted it from their interactions with Aramaic-speaking populations in the Middle East during the Crusades and other conflicts.

One notable historical figure with the name Marda was Marda of Bamberg, a German noblewoman who lived in the 11th century and was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the construction of the Bamberg Cathedral.

Another prominent individual with this name was Marda von Salzburg, a 13th-century Austrian philosopher and theologian who was highly influential in the development of scholastic thought during the High Middle Ages.

In the 15th century, Marda de Valois, a French noblewoman and courtier, gained renown for her role in the cultural and political affairs of the French court during the reign of King Charles VII.

During the Renaissance period, Marda Raimondi, an Italian artist and engraver from Bologna, was celebrated for her intricate engravings and woodcuts, which often depicted religious and mythological scenes.

In the 18th century, Marda Sackville-West, an English writer and gardener, was renowned for her contributions to the English landscape garden movement and her influential novels and memoirs.

While the name Marda has waned in popularity in recent times, its historical roots and associations with notable figures from various eras and cultures continue to make it a unique and intriguing name choice.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Marda was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Marda, please contact us.

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