UK boy's name
Martel
A French name derived from the word "martel", meaning "hammer" or "little hammer".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Martel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Martel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4812, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 4 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2006 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Martel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Martel ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 4 boys were registered as Martel.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Martel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4812
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
4 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Martel mean?
The name Martel is derived from the Latin word "martellus," which means "hammer." It originated in medieval France and was associated with the Carolingian dynasty.
The name gained widespread fame and recognition due to Charles Martel, a Frankish military leader and statesman who lived from 688 to 741 AD. He is renowned for his victory over the Umayyad Caliphate at the Battle of Tours in 732, which halted the Muslim invasion of Western Europe. His achievement earned him the epithet "Martel," meaning "the Hammer," for his decisive role in crushing the enemy forces.
Martel was a popular name among the Frankish nobility during the Middle Ages, particularly in the regions of modern-day France and parts of Germany. It carried connotations of strength, resilience, and military prowess, reflecting the legacy of Charles Martel's historic triumph.
One notable bearer of the name was Geoffroi Martel (c. 1006-1060), Count of Anjou, who was a powerful and influential figure in medieval France. Another was Geoffroi II Martel (c. 1065-1109), Count of Vendôme, who played a significant role in the Crusades and the affairs of the French monarchy.
During the Renaissance period, the name Martel gained popularity beyond the borders of France. Erasmus Martel (1474-1536), a German humanist and scholar, was a prominent figure of the Northern Renaissance and a leading figure in the Reform movement.
In more recent times, the name Martel has been carried by several notable individuals, such as Claude Martel (1920-2012), a French actor known for his roles in numerous films and television series. Another bearer of the name was Jacques Martel (1922-2006), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Martel over time
The chart below shows babies named Martel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Martel, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Martel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Martel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4427 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3385 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Martel
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Martel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Martel in the UK right now?
In 2017, Martel was ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Martel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 4 babies registered as Martel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Martel?
A French name derived from the word "martel", meaning "hammer" or "little hammer".
How many people are called Martel in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Martel across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.