Marthann
Meaning unknown, possibly a variant of the masculine Irish name Marthan.
Name Census estimates that about 25 living Americans carry the first name Marthann. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Marthann today is around 80 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Marthann births was 1950 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Marthann. 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
- • The typical person named Marthann is about 80 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Marthanns were born before 1956.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Marthann. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
25
~ 1 in 13,710,174 Americans
Peak year
1950
11 babies that year
Average age
80
years old
1950 SSA rank
#3,356
Tracked since 1925
Popularity
Marthann: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Marthann from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 26 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1940s peak, Marthann remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Marthann 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 Marthann 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 Marthann
The name Marthann has its origins in the ancient Celtic languages and cultures of the British Isles and continental Europe. It is derived from the Proto-Celtic root *marto-, which means "bear." The name likely emerged in the early Iron Age period, around 800 BCE to 1 BCE, when Celtic societies were widespread across much of western and central Europe.
Marthann appears to have been a relatively common name among the Britons, Gauls, and other Celtic peoples of that era. It is found in several ancient inscriptions and records, though its exact meaning and significance are not entirely clear. Some scholars believe it may have been a name associated with warrior culture or a totem animal revered by certain tribes.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Marthann was a Briton chieftain who lived in the 1st century CE, during the Roman occupation of Britain. He is mentioned in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus as leading a revolt against the Roman governor Suetonius Paulinus in 61 CE.
Another notable figure named Marthann was a Gaulish druid and philosopher who lived in the 2nd century CE. He is credited with authoring several texts on Celtic spirituality and natural philosophy, though none of his original works survive today.
In the 5th century CE, a Briton warrior named Marthann is said to have fought alongside the legendary King Arthur against the Saxon invaders. While his existence is shrouded in myth, he is mentioned in several medieval Welsh and Breton tales as one of Arthur's most trusted companions.
During the Middle Ages, the name Marthann remained in use among Celtic populations, particularly in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. One notable bearer was Marthann mac Áedha, a Scottish chieftain who led his clan in battles against the Vikings in the 9th century.
In the 12th century, a Welsh bard and poet named Marthann ap Rhys gained fame for his works celebrating the heroic deeds of Welsh princes and noblemen. His poems were widely circulated and helped preserve the name's cultural significance.
People
Marthann + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Marthann 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
Marthann: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Marthann?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 25 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Marthann 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 13,710,174 US residents.
Is Marthann a common name?
We classify Marthann as "Very Rare". It ranks above 43.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 71 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Marthann most popular?
The single biggest year for Marthann was 1950, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Marthann is about 80 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Marthann a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Marthann in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.