Name meaning & stats
Martha
Martha means “lady” (Aramaic origin). 273,638 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Marthas are 1.9× over-represented as professors.
What it means
“lady”
AramaicWell documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
273,638 US babies were named Martha between 1940 and 2025.
Where Marthas end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Writer | 1.2× | High · 34 people |
| Professor | 1.9× | High · 32 people |
| Politician | 1.2× | High · 27 people |
| Actor | 0.5× | Medium · 18 people |
Among notable women who are professors, Marthas show up 1.9× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Martha has a surprise career: 2.1×
Name twins (peaked around 1947)