Given name & surname
Martel
“dedicated to Mars, the god of war”
Martel is a variant of Martin. One Latin interpretation is “dedicated to Mars, the god of war.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Martel is a variant of Martin. One Latin interpretation is “dedicated to Mars, the god of war.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Martel is a variant of Martin. An origin associated with Martin is Latin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1920. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Martel is a variant of Martin. The history of Martin gives this family its wider story. Martin was in use during the Middle Ages.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Martel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,706
- 1,696 boys · 10 girls
- Most popular year
- 1991
- 72 babies
- 2025
- 7
- #10,313 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −42%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 7 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 10,313 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 42.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 72 in 1991. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,519 as a first name in 2020; 8,406 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Martel’s family of names
Martel has a related form in Martin. In Greek usage, Martel as a surname is a transliteration of Μάρτελ.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Martel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mykel
“who is like God?”
94% boys · 6% girls
Mikel
“who is like God?”
99% boys · 1% girls
Marquis
“a lord of the borderlands; a nobleman”
>99% boys
Malcom
Malcom is a surname.
>99% boys
Mitchell
“who is like God?”
>99% boys
Mathew
“gift of God” · “a gift from God”
>99% boys
Tyrell
“one who is stubborn” · “a powerful man”
>99% boys
Markus
“dedicated to Mars, the god of war”
>99% boys