Holding steady.
Popularity of Martinique since 1972
Babies named Martinique per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 99 |
| 1980s | 157 |
| 1990s | 155 |
| 2000s | 49 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Martinique is a rare place name that first entered U.S. naming records in 1972, during an era when exotic and geographic names were gaining popularity. Its peak usage came in 1977, the same year the name saw its highest recorded frequency. Since then, it has remained consistently uncommon, never breaking into the top 1000. The name is overwhelmingly given to girls, and it has not shown any notable revival in recent decades. While no specific top states can be identified from the data, the name's association with the Caribbean island lends it a tropical, elegant feel. Parents drawn to Martinique often choose it for its melodic sound and unique standing, pairing it with similarly styled sibling names like Trinidad or Dominique.
Martinique is a place name taken directly from the Caribbean island. The island's name is thought to derive from a Taíno word, either meaning 'place of the iguanas' (from 'madiana' or 'mantinino') or from the name of a local chief. The island was named by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and the name later came into use as a given name, particularly in the 1970s following a rise in popularity of exotic place names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Marti, Nique, Tina
Sibling names for Martinique
Names that share Martinique's style, for a brother or sister.
