Holding steady.
Popularity of Mort since 1904
Babies named Mort per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Mort's real moment was 1904.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 32 |
| 1920s | 48 |
| 1930s | 23 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Mort is a rare given name, most familiar as a clipped form of Mortimer or Morton. According to U.S. Social Security data, Mort first appeared in records in 1904, and that year also marked its peak, though it has never been common enough to rank nationally. Its one-in-N ratio is unavailable due to its extreme rarity, reflecting fewer than five annual births in most years. The name's trajectory is stable but minuscule, with no recorded uptick in recent decades. Mort was most frequently used in the 1900s decade, and no top states have been associated with it. As a short, blunt name derived from a French place name, Mort carries a vintage, somewhat somber tone. Parents today rarely consider it, but it remains a legitimate if obscure choice for those seeking a name with old-world roots.
Mort originated as a diminutive of Mortimer and Morton, which themselves derive from French place names. Mortimer comes from the Old French 'mortemer' meaning 'dead water', while Morton is from Old English 'mortūn' meaning 'town near a moor'. As an independent given name, Mort gained modest use in English-speaking countries in the early 20th century, though it has never been common.
Sibling names for Mort
Names that share Mort's style, for a brother or sister.
