UK name, mostly boys
Martell
A masculine name of French origin meaning "little warrior" or "little Mars".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Martell is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Martell popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4632, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 10 births.
This profile covers 63 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2014. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 62 living people in the UK are called Martell. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Martell ranked #4632 for boys in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 10 boys were registered as Martell.
- • About 62 living people in the UK are estimated to have Martell as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 94.0% of Martell registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4632
2014
Births in 2014
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
10 births
Estimated living
62
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Martell
In England and Wales birth records, Martell has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 94.0% of registrations are for boys and 6.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Martell registered for boys
- Ranked #4,632 in 2014
- 3 boys registered in 2014
- Peak: 1996 (10 births)
Martell registered for girls
- Ranked #3,174 in 1997
- 4 girls registered in 1997
- Peak: 1997 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Martell mean?
The name Martell has its roots in the Latin language, derived from the Roman name Martellus, which itself is a diminutive form of the name Martius. Martius was derived from the name of the Roman god of war, Mars. The earliest recorded use of the name Martell dates back to the 5th century AD, during the decline of the Western Roman Empire.
In the Middle Ages, the name Martell gained popularity in various regions of Europe, particularly in France and England. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Pepin Martell, a Frankish statesman and military leader who lived from around 687 to 714 AD. He played a pivotal role in defending Europe against the invading Moors and is considered one of the founders of the Carolingian dynasty.
Another notable historical figure with the name Martell was Jacobus Martellus, an Italian cartographer from the 15th century. He is known for creating one of the earliest maps depicting the Americas, which he labeled as "Insulae Indiae" (Islands of India). His work contributed significantly to the exploration and understanding of the New World during the Age of Discovery.
In the 16th century, the name Martell was associated with the House of Martell, a prominent French family that established the Martell Cognac House in 1715. This cognac house, founded by Jean Martell, became one of the oldest and most renowned producers of the famous French brandy.
During the 19th century, a notable bearer of the name was Martell Fielding, an English writer and journalist who lived from 1825 to 1891. He was known for his contributions to various newspapers and magazines, including The Illustrated London News and Punch.
In the 20th century, Martell Langdon was a prominent American architect who lived from 1892 to 1975. He designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Sherry-Netherland Hotel and the Union Theological Seminary.
While these are just a few examples, the name Martell has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and historical periods, reflecting its enduring presence and the various cultural influences it has absorbed over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Martell over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Martell in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Martell, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2014, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Martell by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Martell 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 | #4652 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2938 | 30 | 7 |
| 1990s | #1939 | 24 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Martell
- 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
Martell: questions and answers
How popular is the name Martell in the UK right now?
In 2014, Martell was ranked #4632 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Martell most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 10 babies registered as Martell in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Martell?
A masculine name of French origin meaning "little warrior" or "little Mars".
How many people are called Martell in the UK?
A total of 63 babies have been registered as Martell across the 14 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.