Martain
A Hebrew name meaning "gift of Mars" or "related to Mars".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Martain. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Martain today is around 63 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Martain births was 1959 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Martain. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Martain. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1959
7 babies that year
Average age
63
years old
1972 SSA rank
#5,482
Tracked since 1959
Popularity
Martain: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Martain from the 1950s through to the 1970s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 7 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1950s peak, Martain remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Martain by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Martain during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Martain
The name Martain is a unique and intriguing moniker with a rich history and cultural significance. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, where it was derived from the Sumerian word "mar-ta-in," which translates to "the one who walks among the stars." This celestial connection suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals believed to possess a deep understanding of the cosmos or a strong spiritual connection to the heavenly realm.
In the ancient Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known literary works, there is a character named Martain who is described as a wise and enigmatic figure, possessing knowledge of the stars and the mysteries of the universe. This early reference highlights the name's enduring association with celestial themes and esoteric wisdom.
During the medieval period, the name Martain gained popularity among certain mystical and occult circles, particularly those devoted to the study of astrology and the occult sciences. It was believed that individuals bearing this name were imbued with a special affinity for the celestial realms and possessed an innate understanding of the workings of the cosmos.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Martain was a 12th-century Persian astronomer and mathematician known as Martain al-Khwarizmi (c. 780 - 850 CE). His groundbreaking works on algebra and algorithms laid the foundations for modern mathematics and earned him a lasting legacy in the annals of scientific history.
Another notable figure was Martain the Mage, a legendary 15th-century alchemist and mystic from the Italian city of Florence. According to historical accounts, Martain was renowned for his expertise in the occult arts and was said to have possessed the ability to commune with celestial entities and decipher the mysteries of the cosmos.
In the realm of literature, the name Martain found its way into the works of the renowned English poet John Milton (1608 - 1674). In his epic poem "Paradise Lost," Milton introduced a character named Martain, a fallen angel who played a pivotal role in the celestial rebellion against God.
Fast-forwarding to the 20th century, one cannot overlook the influence of Martain Heidegger (1889 - 1976), the renowned German philosopher whose existential and phenomenological ideas profoundly shaped modern thought. While his name may not have been directly derived from the celestial roots of Martain, his philosophical musings on the nature of Being and human existence brought a new depth and complexity to the name.
Throughout its long and storied history, the name Martain has maintained its celestial and esoteric associations, evoking images of stargazers, mystics, and those who seek to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. Its enduring presence in various cultures and eras serves as a testament to the enduring fascination with the heavens and the eternal human quest for knowledge and enlightenment.
People
Martain + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Martain as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Martain: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Martain?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Martain going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Martain a common name?
We classify Martain as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Martain most popular?
The single biggest year for Martain was 1959, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Martain is about 63 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Martain in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Martain a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Martain in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Martain still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Martain in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Martain can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Martain as a first name?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.