Martial
Marcus Valerius Martialis was a Roman and Celtiberian poet born in Bilbilis, Hispania, best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan. In these poems he satirises city life and the scandalous activities of his acquaintances and romanticises his provincial upbringing.
Meaning & Origin of Martial
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Marcus Valerius Martialis was a Roman and Celtiberian poet born in Bilbilis, Hispania, best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan. In these poems he satirises city life and the scandalous activities of his acquaintances and romanticises his provincial upbringing.
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The Story of Martial
Martial first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1919, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1961, when 6 Martials were born — ranking #3,652 that year. As of 2026, Martial ranks #12,084 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 47 Martials have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Martial
Phonetically similar names — useful when Martial is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Martial
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About the name Martial
Martial is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1919 and has accumulated 47 births in the dataset. Martial's peak popularity came in 1961 when it ranked #3,652. Use the chart and map above to compare Martial's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
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- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.