Martwan
A name of unknown origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Martwan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Martwan today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Martwan births was 1994 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Martwan. 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 Martwan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1994
5 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
1994 SSA rank
#9,749
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Martwan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Martwan 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 Martwan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Martwan
The name Martwan has its origins in ancient Mesopotamia, specifically in the Akkadian language spoken by the Assyrians and Babylonians. It is derived from the Akkadian words "Martu," meaning "west," and "wan," meaning "to go." The name can be translated to mean "one who travels westward."
During the height of the Assyrian Empire, around the 7th century BCE, the name Martwan was often given to merchants, traders, and explorers who traveled westward along the vast trade routes stretching from Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean region. The earliest known record of the name appears in a cuneiform tablet from the reign of King Ashurbanipal, which mentions a merchant named Martwan who traded in spices and precious stones.
In ancient Sumerian mythology, there is a reference to a figure named Martwan, who was said to be a guide and protector of travelers on treacherous journeys. This mythological figure was often invoked by those embarking on long and perilous expeditions, seeking his blessings for a safe and prosperous journey.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Martwan was a renowned Assyrian astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 5th century BCE. His observations and calculations were instrumental in the development of early astronomical knowledge and the creation of the Babylonian calendar.
In the 3rd century BCE, a Parthian general named Martwan led a successful campaign against the Seleucid Empire, helping to establish Parthian control over much of the Middle East. His military exploits and strategic brilliance made him a celebrated figure in Parthian history.
During the Islamic Golden Age, a scholar and philosopher from Baghdad named Martwan ibn Ali al-Kindi (801-873 CE) made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, optics, and philosophy. His works were widely studied and influential in the intellectual circles of the time.
In more recent history, Martwan Adi (1908-1976) was a prominent Iraqi Kurdish politician and leader of the Kurdish Democratic Party. He played a pivotal role in advocating for Kurdish rights and autonomy in the 20th century.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Martwan throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and intellectual heritage.
People
Martwan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Martwan 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
Martwan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Martwan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Martwan 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Martwan a common name?
We classify Martwan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Martwan most popular?
The single biggest year for Martwan was 1994, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Martwan is about 31 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 Martwan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Martwan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Martwan 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 Martwan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Martwan 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 Martwan 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 share the name Martwan?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.