Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Martha

Martha is a Biblical name originating from the ancient Aramaic language (Martâ) meaning “lady, mistress”. She was borne from the Bible, in the New Testament, as the sister of Mary of Bethany and their deathly ill brother Lazarus. John 11:1-44 retells the story of Martha and Mary sending for Jesus: “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” When Lazarus died, Jesus resurrected him from the dead – and those Jews in witness began to follow Jesus as the Messiah. In Luke 10:38, Jesus visits the house of Martha and Mary. Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, while Martha is “distracted with much serving.” Martha complains to Jesus about how she’s doing all the work while Mary just sits and listens. As a result, Martha is often associated with hard domestic work rather than the contemplative life. We must admit – Mary of Bethany’s job sounds better to us! In any case, the name was resurrected by Protestants in England during the 16th century Reformation. Martha’s role in the Bible would have been attractive to the more religiously strict Puritans. Remarkably, the name Martha is still a Top 100 favorite in England. Martha Washington, the first First Lady of the United States, helped popularize this name in America (although it has since gone out of style).

All About the Baby Name – Martha

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME MARTHA

The number Seven personality is deeply mystical and highly in tune with their spirituality. They operate on a different wavelength than the average joe. Spending time alone comes easily to Sevens, as it gives them time to contemplate philosophical, religious and spiritual ideas in an effort to find "real truth".  Sevens are wise, but often exude mystery as if they are tapped into something the rest of us don't understand. They love the outdoors and are fed by nature. Sevens are constantly seeking to understand human nature, our place in the universe, and the mystery of life in general. This makes them quite artistic and poetic, but they are also keen observers with high intellect - so they are equally scientific-minded. Sevens are charitable and care deeply about the human condition.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME MARTHA

Martha is a name that has done quite well throughout American history; that is, until recently. The U.S. government has only been tracking naming trends since 1880, but we know for sure that Martha was a commonly used female name at the time of colonization. Back at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Martha was a favorite female name – generally averaging around #25 in terms of popularity. The name didn’t fall off the Top 100 list of most commonly used girl names in America until 1966. The name’s usage continued its gradual decline up through the 1990s, at which time she pretty much went into free-fall on the charts. And boy, did she drop like rocks. Martha is not one of those charming "old lady" names that parents are accepting today. Parents are down with Emma, Ruby and even Hazel. But Martha? No thank you. This once stylish and now out-dated name has become an original and charming choice for baby girls. Martha is dignified and classic. She’s ancient and sweetly old-fashioned. We love the Biblical reference and how it rings true for self-made billionaire Martha Stewart – the ultimate “mistress” of “domestic work”. Martha from Bethany would have admired Martha from New Jersey! We also love the reference to the 1968 Beatles song “Martha My Dear” purportedly written about Paul McCartney’s Old English sheepdog, Martha. We like the nicknames Mattie, Marty, or Marta – but did you know that Patty actually developed as a 17th century diminutive of Martha? We applaud the non-conformist parents willing to go with such an out-dated name as Martha – she is truly a “lady”-like and classy name.

Quick Facts

ON MARTHA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

803

PRONUNCIATION:

MAHR-thə

SIMPLE MEANING:

Lady, mistress

Characteristics

OF MARTHA

Mystical

Wise

Eccentric

Intuitive

Imaginative

Philosophical

Solitary

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Martha

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME MARTHA

Martha is one of the famous sister duo of the Bible, Martha and Mary, whom Jesus visits, according to the Gospels. They live with their brother, Lazarus, who, incidentally, Jesus has raised from the dead. So already they have a pretty close thing going. Martha is always contrasted with Mary as being the more domestic of the two, bustling about the home, making ready the meals, etc., while Mary gets to hang around and listen to Jesus. Our Martha objects to this, asking the Lord if He does not care that she has to do all the work while her sister gets to sit. And you know what Jesus says to her? “Martha, Martha…Mary has chosen what is better….”. So, there. It’s in the Bible, spoken by Jesus Christ Himself. But nowhere is it mentioned whether or not Lazarus pitched in and helped out in the kitchen – so are we to assume Martha meekly turned back to her chores, or did she nudge Mary to move over so she could sit down too? And if so, who cooked the dinner anyway?

Martha is the protagonist of Edward Albee’s 1962 Broadway play, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, most famously portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor opposite her then-husband, Richard Burton, in Mike Nichols’ 1966 film of the same name. Martha, the daughter of a university president, and her associate-professor husband, George, host a new young professor and his wife (Nick and Honey) for one long, drunken, abusive brawl of an evening, in which friendships are tested, secrets are told, vows are broken and life spills messily out all over the place. Martha contemptuously taunts and emasculates George in front of the young couple, pointing out his shortcomings and comparing him unfavorably to her father. Underlying the action at all times is the reference to George and Martha’s son, whom they both discuss at one time or another. After it is clear that Martha has attempted to seduce Nick, George gets his own revenge. He picks flowers from the yard and brings them to Martha, telling her they are for their dead son. He has broken the rules. He has killed off the son who never was. He has let the big bad wolf into their lives and Martha’s illusions are destroyed. So, it would seem, is her life, for it is not at all certain that she can live without those illusions.

Martha Brewster is one of the delightfully dotty maiden aunts of Cary Grant’s character, Mortimer Brewster, in Frank Capra’s 1944 classic film, Arsenic and Old Lace, itself based on Joseph Kesselring’s Broadway play of the same name. She was played by Jean Adair in both the play and the movie. Martha and her sister raised Mortimer and still provide a home for Mortimer’s brother, Teddy, who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt. In addition, they routinely commit the charitable deed of killing off lonely old men with a mixture of arsenic and elderberry wine, so as to put them out of their misery. The bodies are buried in the basement by a cooperative Teddy, who believes he is burying yellow fever victims and dredging for the Panama Canal. Mortimer, who has just gotten married, discovers this state of affairs, and madness and mayhem break loose as he tries to cover up for the old ladies and to have his brother committed to an asylum. All’s well that ends well, as the sisters cheerfully agree to leave behind their life of crime and to accompany Teddy to HappyDale Sanitarium. Martha and her sister deliver one parting gift to Mortimer, however. They tell him that he is not actually their nephew, having been their brother’s cook’s child – so Mortimer can go off into married life knowing that he will not be carrying on one family tradition after all.

Martha Sowerby is the good-natured maidservant in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, The Secret Garden, first published in 1911, which has been adapted into a number of movies, stage plays, television productions and animated features. Martha is a healthy girl from a large family in the village, in stark contrast to the pale and sickly orphan, Mary Lenox, who arrives at her uncle’s Yorkshire manor from India. Martha’s down-to-earth kindliness has an effect on young Mary, as the maidservant urges her to eat and enjoy the fresh country air, introducing Mary to her own young brother, Dickon, for a companion. Martha also tells Mary about the secret garden that has gone untended since the mistress’ death years earlier. Martha’s natural goodness and strong sense of self help to foster Mary’s own transformation from a stiff and lonely child into a healthy, questioning seeker of life itself. In her own way, Martha is as contributing a force to Mary’s growth as is the secret garden itself.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME MARTHA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Martha


Popular Songs

ON MARTHA

For Martha
a song by the Smashing Pumpkins

Little Martha
a song by The Allman Brothers Band

Martha
a song by Meat Loaf

Martha My Dear
a song by The Beatles

Martha Say
a song by John Mellencamp

Message to Martha
a song by Adam Faith

Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine
a song by Country Joe and the Fish

The Martha White Song
a song by Rhonda Vincent

Famous People

NAMED MARTHA

Martha Washington (U.S. First Lady)
Martha Jefferson (U.S. First Lady)
Martha Stewart (businesswoman and TV personality)
Martha Graham ("The Mother of Modern Dance”)
Martha Plimpton (actress)
Martha Jane Canary (aka Calamity Jane)
Martha “Martie” Maguire (musician/Dixie Chick)
Martha of Sweden (royalty)
Princess Märtha-Louise of Norway (royalty)
Martha Davis (singer)
Martha Washington (U.S. First Lady)
Martha Jefferson (U.S. First Lady)
Martha Stewart (businesswoman and TV personality)
Martha Graham ("The Mother of Modern Dance”)
Martha Plimpton (actress)
Martha Jane Canary (aka Calamity Jane)
Martha “Martie” Maguire (musician/Dixie Chick)
Martha of Sweden (royalty)
Princess Märtha-Louise of Norway (royalty)
Martha Davis (singer)
Martha Washington (U.S. First Lady)
Martha Jefferson (U.S. First Lady)
Martha Stewart (businesswoman and TV personality)
Martha Graham ("The Mother of Modern Dance”)
Martha Plimpton (actress)
Martha Jane Canary (aka Calamity Jane)
Martha “Martie” Maguire (musician/Dixie Chick)
Martha of Sweden (royalty)
Princess Märtha-Louise of Norway (royalty)
Martha Davis (singer)

Children of Famous People

NAMED MARTHA

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Martha

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME MARTHA

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the first First Lady of the land, as wife to George Washington, the first president of the United States. Born in 1731 to a Virginia planter, she married John Custis, a wealthy plantation owner, and bore him four children, two of whom lived to young adulthood. Widowed at 25, she married Washington in 1759, when she was 27, bringing considerable riches to the union. They did not have any children of their own, but together raised the two surviving Custis children, as well as two of her son John Custis’ own children after his death in the War. In addition, they financially supported their own extended families on both sides. George Washington became the legal manager of the Custis estate upon their marriage, but evidence shows that Martha was very active in the day-to-day operation of same. During the Revolutionary War, Martha traveled with Washington to the winter encampments for eight years, providing him emotional and moral support. She was opposed to his accepting the presidency and did not attend the inaugural proceedings; however, during his tenure she brought her best to her role as hostess for the nation, well aware that she was setting a template for future first ladies. Martha’s money was responsible for the great expansion that took place at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate on the Potomac, and they lived there in apparent comfort and harmony both before and after the presidential years. He died in 1799 and she followed in 1802. Posthumously, Martha Washington became the first American woman to be depicted on a U.S. postage stamp, thrice, in 1902, 1923 and 1938. Additionally, she is the only woman whose image has appeared on the face of a U.S. currency note, the $1 Silver Certificate of 1886, 1891 and 1896. This seems a fitting tribute to a woman who helped preside over the birth of a new nation.

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the first First Lady of the land, as wife to George Washington, the first president of the United States. Born in 1731 to a Virginia planter, she married John Custis, a wealthy plantation owner, and bore him four children, two of whom lived to young adulthood. Widowed at 25, she married Washington in 1759, when she was 27, bringing considerable riches to the union. They did not have any children of their own, but together raised the two surviving Custis children, as well as two of her son John Custis’ own children after his death in the War. In addition, they financially supported their own extended families on both sides. George Washington became the legal manager of the Custis estate upon their marriage, but evidence shows that Martha was very active in the day-to-day operation of same. During the Revolutionary War, Martha traveled with Washington to the winter encampments for eight years, providing him emotional and moral support. She was opposed to his accepting the presidency and did not attend the inaugural proceedings; however, during his tenure she brought her best to her role as hostess for the nation, well aware that she was setting a template for future first ladies. Martha’s money was responsible for the great expansion that took place at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate on the Potomac, and they lived there in apparent comfort and harmony both before and after the presidential years. He died in 1799 and she followed in 1802. Posthumously, Martha Washington became the first American woman to be depicted on a U.S. postage stamp, thrice, in 1902, 1923 and 1938. Additionally, she is the only woman whose image has appeared on the face of a U.S. currency note, the $1 Silver Certificate of 1886, 1891 and 1896. This seems a fitting tribute to a woman who helped preside over the birth of a new nation.

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the first First Lady of the land, as wife to George Washington, the first president of the United States. Born in 1731 to a Virginia planter, she married John Custis, a wealthy plantation owner, and bore him four children, two of whom lived to young adulthood. Widowed at 25, she married Washington in 1759, when she was 27, bringing considerable riches to the union. They did not have any children of their own, but together raised the two surviving Custis children, as well as two of her son John Custis’ own children after his death in the War. In addition, they financially supported their own extended families on both sides. George Washington became the legal manager of the Custis estate upon their marriage, but evidence shows that Martha was very active in the day-to-day operation of same. During the Revolutionary War, Martha traveled with Washington to the winter encampments for eight years, providing him emotional and moral support. She was opposed to his accepting the presidency and did not attend the inaugural proceedings; however, during his tenure she brought her best to her role as hostess for the nation, well aware that she was setting a template for future first ladies. Martha’s money was responsible for the great expansion that took place at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate on the Potomac, and they lived there in apparent comfort and harmony both before and after the presidential years. He died in 1799 and she followed in 1802. Posthumously, Martha Washington became the first American woman to be depicted on a U.S. postage stamp, thrice, in 1902, 1923 and 1938. Additionally, she is the only woman whose image has appeared on the face of a U.S. currency note, the $1 Silver Certificate of 1886, 1891 and 1896. This seems a fitting tribute to a woman who helped preside over the birth of a new nation.