Martha

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Martha

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Martha is an Aramaic name. It originally meant “Mistress of the House,” or “Lady” from “mar” (lord).

History:
Marthe was always a favorite name in Provence (France), but Martha did not catch on in England until the Reformation.

Pronunciation: marth-ah

Diminutives:
English: Mattie, Pattie.
Spanish: Martita, Tita.

Alternates:
Czech: Marta.
French: Marthe.
German: Marthe.
Hawaiian: Maleka.
Hungarian: Márta.
Italian: Marta.
Polish: Marta.
Russian: Marfa.
Scandinavian: Marta, Marthe, Marte.
Spanish: Marta.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Martha Finley (1828-1909)
American author.
Martha Graham (1894-1991)
American dancer.
Martha Clarke (1944-)
American choreographer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Martha McClellan Brown (1838-1916)
American temperance leader.
Martha Carey Thomas (1857-1935)
American educator. Second president of Bryn Mawr College.
Martha Platt Falconer (1862-1941)
American social worker who worked with the homeless.
Martha McChesney Berry (1866-1942)
American educator
Martha A. Field (1943-)
American legal scholar

Miscellaneous:
Martha Corey (?-1692)
Hung as a witch in Salem.
Martha Ellis Gellhorn (1908-1998)
American war journalist.
Martha Stewart (1941-)
American businesswoman.

Places:
Martha’s Vineyard
Massachusetts

Political Figures:
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731-1802)
Wife of George Washington.
Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson (1748-1782)
Wife of Thomas Jefferson.

Religious Figures:
(St.) Martha (Biblical)
Sister of Mary and Lazarus.

Royalty:
Princess Martha Bernadotte of Sweden (1901-1954)
Wife to King Olav V of Norway.

Scientists:
Martha Wollstein (1868-1939)
American physician and pathologist.

Singers and Entertainers:
Martha Raye (1916-1994)
American comic.
Martha Reeves (1941-)
American singer.
Martha Colidge (1944-)
American filmmaker.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.412 % named Martha
0.001 % named Marth

Popularity of Martha:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 13th most popular.
1850: 5th most popular.
1875: 11th most popular.
1900-1910: 31st most popular.
1910-1920: 25th most popular.
1920-1930: 24th most popular.
1930-1940: 26th most popular.
1940-1950: 30th most popular.
1950-1960: 46th most popular.
1960-1970: 93rd most popular.
1970-1980: 163rd most popular.
1980-1990: 209th most popular.
1990: 204th most popular.
1991: 227th most popular.
1992: 223rd most popular.
1993: 239th most popular.
1994: 268th most popular.
1995: 291st most popular.
1996: 324th most popular.
1997: 336th most popular.
1998: 374th most popular.
1999: 388th most popular.
2000: 381st most popular.
2001: 400th most popular.
2002: 431st most popular.
2003: 486th most popular.

Popularity of Marthe:
Popularity (for newborns):
In France...
1900: 9th most popular.
1910: 12th most popular.
1920: 26th most popular.
1930: 49th most popular.
1940: 84th most popular.
1950: 155th most popular.
1955: 199th most popular.
1960-2000: N/A