Fun Facts About the Name Martell
- More than 2 thousand babies named Martell: U.S. records list 2,665 babies given the name Martell from 1880 through 2025. Even 36 girls received the name Martell - about 1 girl for every 73 boys.
What Does the Name Martell Mean?
Martell is a French surname, also used as a given name, and it has two competing explanations. The more widely cited one derives it from Old French martel, "hammer," which comes from Late Latin martellus, a diminutive of Latin malleus, "hammer." The word served as a nickname or byname, and bynames of this type often hardened into hereditary surnames.
A second explanation treats Martell as a pet or diminutive form of the personal name Martin, from Latin Martinus, meaning "of Mars" and so "warlike." Martin was one of the most common given names in medieval France, and shortened forms ending in -el were ordinary. Both derivations are attested for the surname, and which one lies behind a particular family - or behind the modern given name - usually cannot be settled.
The double l spelling is a variant of the surname Martel; the two spellings do not signal different origins. The name is French in origin and is found as a surname in France and, after the Norman settlement, in England; as a given name it is used mainly in the United States and is uncommon.
Martell Name History & Origins
The pieces behind Martell are older than the name. Old French martel, "hammer," descends from Late Latin martellus, and the byname "the Hammer" was attached to Charles Martel, the Frankish mayor of the palace who died in 741 and was the grandfather of Charlemagne. Latin sources render that nickname as Martellus. Bynames of this kind became hereditary in France, and Normans carried forms such as Martel and Martell to England, where they appear as surnames.
In France the surname could also grow out of the personal name Martin, which was extremely common in the Middle Ages; a diminutive such as Martinel or Martel would have set one bearer apart from others. Because the "hammer" nickname and the Martin diminutive could produce the same spelling, the surname's origin differs from family to family.
Two later associations made the spelling familiar without being its source: the cognac house Martell, founded in 1715 by Jean Martell, and the ruling house of Dorne in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels. As a given name, Martell remains rare and is generally taken over from the surname rather than created independently.
How Popular is the Name Martell?
Martell recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1986. Its best rank was #813 in 1986.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | #12,501 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #11,498 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #9,765 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #10,246 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1924 | #5,596 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1919 | #5,297 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1915 | #4,721 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,497 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #6,672 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #6,759 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2022 | #5,149 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #5,478 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2020 | #6,499 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #4,424 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #4,438 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2017 | #3,349 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2016 | #3,574 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2015 | #3,647 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2014 | #3,347 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2013 | #2,748 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 2012 | #3,150 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2011 | #3,488 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2010 | #2,816 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 2009 | #2,879 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 2008 | #3,321 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 2007 | #3,356 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 2006 | #2,609 | 46 | 0.0022% |
| 2005 | #2,738 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 2004 | #2,933 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2003 | #3,417 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #2,665 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2001 | #2,969 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2000 | #2,212 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 1999 | #2,126 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 1998 | #1,806 | 56 | 0.0029% |
| 1997 | #2,082 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 1996 | #1,732 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 1995 | #1,543 | 62 | 0.0033% |
| 1994 | #1,574 | 59 | 0.0031% |
| 1993 | #1,375 | 71 | 0.0036% |
| 1992 | #1,226 | 85 | 0.0043% |
| 1991 | #1,051 | 106 | 0.0052% |
| 1990 | #969 | 117 | 0.0057% |
| 1989 | #999 | 105 | 0.0052% |
| 1988 | #946 | 104 | 0.0054% |
| 1987 | #926 | 105 | 0.0056% |
| 1986 | #813 | 124 | 0.0067% |
| 1985 | #829 | 117 | 0.0063% |
| 1984 | #927 | 90 | 0.0050% |
| 1983 | #832 | 111 | 0.0062% |
| 1982 | #1,086 | 71 | 0.0039% |
| 1981 | #2,306 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1980 | #2,803 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #3,290 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1978 | #3,534 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #4,048 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #3,400 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1975 | #4,616 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #3,482 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #3,606 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #2,763 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1971 | #3,089 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #2,590 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #4,343 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #3,443 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #4,415 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #3,209 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #3,918 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #3,481 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,170 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #4,283 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #3,743 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #4,011 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #4,001 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #4,069 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1944 | #3,330 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,772 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1937 | #3,850 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1936 | #2,777 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1935 | #3,975 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1934 | #4,009 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1933 | #3,974 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #4,134 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #3,857 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1928 | #4,518 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #3,618 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #4,170 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #4,646 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #4,717 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #4,166 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #4,106 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #4,573 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #3,108 | 8 | 0.0009% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Martell Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Martell's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Martell's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.