Contribute your knowledge to the name Martha

Comments and insights on the name Martha

I have frequently heard Christian women identify themselves as either "Marys" or "Marthas", referring to the New Testament sisters, one of whom sat attentively while Jesus spoke, while the other, Martha, concerned herself with housework and tending to her guests. The Martha designation seems to be a kind of short-hand to indicate a woman takes her home responsibilities very seriously.

Personal experiences with the name Martha

Although I associate the name Marcie with the 1960's, my grandmother, born in 1917, was called Marcie as a nickname for Martha when she was young.

I was born in 1982, and named Martha. I first began to dislike my name when I was three years old and starting pre-school. It bothered me all through grade-school and junior high, and when I turned 16 I legally changed it to Kate, which everyone agreed suited me much better. I am now 27, and have never regretted my decision.

I think Martha is a duh outdated name, but I think the nickname "Marty" is pretty cool.

My mother toyed with the idea of naming my youngest sister Martha, saying Martha was a pretty name. I don't like the name because there were 2 Martha's at my school that I didn't like. Also I think it sounds like an old lady's name. Another name my mother liked was Marjorie, which isn't as bad as Martha, but it has the "Large Marge" connotation and Marge sounds like a tough barmaid's name.

My mother has a pair of cousins who are twins called Mary and Martha. I always thought that was pretty cool!

I was also born in 1982, and named Martha. I love my name! It is a family name, but my mother chose it just because she liked it. I liked not being one of the 7 Sarahs, Katies, or Jennifer's in my class, but it's not strange either. I think it's a classy name but still sweet, but not too frilly, and I like that it means "a lady". I was never teased, and only a few people have ever used a nickname (Marty, Matti, Mart), mostly I just go by Martha. The only thing that has bothered me is when people refer negatively to the Martha in the Bible all the time and imply that she was a bad person for paying attention to what needed to be done, when that wasn't exactly the point. So when people talk about how you should be a "Mary" and not a "Martha" it's annoying.

My name is Martha. From the day i was born, though, i've gone by Molly. Martha is a family name, so my mother (also Martha) named me it, but with the intention of always calling me Molly. All my life i've said how i hated the name Martha because it sounds like an old woman's name. Its annoying when i have to tell my professors my name is Martha but people call me Molly, and when i fill out paperwork i'm sometimes not sure if i should use my official name or the name people know me by. But now i kind of like it. Some of my friends refer to me as Marth or Martha and its fun when i meet someone to tell them the story. My mom used to always tell me she would take me to city hall to get my name legally changed to Molly, but i don't want to. I'm happy with my 2 names. 20 yrs old from NJ

Nicknames for Martha

Mot, Marty, Marti, Matti, Mattie, Patsy, Marcie, Marthie, Marta, Mittie, Mitzie, Millie, Molly,Mart, Mar

Meanings and history of the name Martha

Famous real-life people named Martha

Martha Argerich, international concert pianist
Martha Nibley Beck, author and life coach
Martha McCully, executive director of "In Style" magazine and judge on TV program "Design Star".
Theodore Roosevelt's mother, Martha, was called "Mittie".
Martha Stewart, entertainment celebrity.
Martha Wainwright, singer-songwriter
Martha Washington, wife of first American President George Washington.
Martha Reeves, lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas.
Martha Davis, lead singer of new wave band, The Motels.
MarthA Plimpton, American actress.
Martha Ann Rogers, American weightlifter (goes by Mattie)

Martha in song, story & screen

Martha Landon - Yeoman of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 2, Episode 5 “The Apple”
"Ella se Llamaba Martha" song from early 1980s "Her Name was Martha"
"Martha"- song by Tom Waits
"Martha Speaks", a television show
"Martha My Dear", song by the Beatles about Paul McCartney's dog.
Martha Jones, traveling companion on "Doctor Who"
Martha Clark Kent, Superman's foster mother (DC comic book character)
Martha Wayne, Batman's mother (DC comics)
Martha Wilson, wife of George Wilson in "Dennis the Menace" by Hank Ketcham
Martha is the name of the maid in 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Martha Quiner no. 1 from The Little House series
Martha Quiner no. 2 from The Little House series
Martha Johansson - a character from the X-Men comics, her superhero name is No-Girl