Martha

The name derives from the Aramaic title marta, translating to mistress of the house. English households adopted it widely by the sixteenth century. It crossed the Atlantic during early colonial settlement, where Martha Washington established it as an enduring civic staple.

The name reads as an authority figure who arrived before color television and never required a microphone to be heard. Half of all living bearers belong to the baby boom, leaving the average Martha around sixty-seven years old today. A Martha tends to be pictured running a municipal board meeting or seasoning cookware that has outlived two stoves. The name reached its high point in 1947, when about 11,000 girls received it in a single year. It carries the air of someone who reads the entire instruction manual before plugging in the appliance.