Martha
On November 6th, 1947, the TV show Meet the Press debuted with moderator Martha Rountree. Martha would remain the show’s host until her retirement in 1953 — launching her lasting legacy as the only female moderator to date in this 75-year-running Sunday morning feature.
The name Martha has a deep-rooted history. Martha originates from the language Aramaic — spoken in the region now known as Syria.
Along with Martha Rountree, notable namesakes include domestic diva Martha Stewart, the first First Lady Martha Washington, and modern dancer Martha Graham. Martha also has a royal pedigree in Scandinavia, a Biblical namesake, and even a Beatles song (Martha My Dear).
Martha is among the exclusive cohort of girl names that have ranked in the US Top 1000 for as long as data has been taken, but the name has had a significant downswing over the last several decades.
Which might be a good thing? Today Martha sits at #725 in the US, which seems like a good spot for a name with such a quiet, traditional feel.
Influencer family Ballerina Farm recognized this understated charm, naming their daughter Martha in 2020, and inspiring our prediction — along with their other daughters’ names Frances and Lois — of the 2024 naming trend “Natural Glamour”.
Conclusion: A baby Martha today would make a quiet statement.