Martyn is a male given name of Welsh origin, derived from the Welsh name "Marteyrn," which is composed of two elements: "martin" meaning "warlike" and "ern" meaning "bear." The name was originally bestowed in honor of St. Martin of Tours, a fourth-century bishop renowned for his kindness and generosity.
In English-speaking countries, Martyn is often spelled without the 'e,' but both spellings are accepted. Its popularity peaked during the late 20th century, although it remains less common than many other names derived from St. Martin's name, such as Martin itself.
Notable individuals named Martyn include Australian rules footballer and coach Ron Evans (born Ronald Martyn Evans), English cricketer Martyn Moxley, and Welsh musician Martyn "Marti" Jones of the band The Alarm. These figures contribute to the diversity and richness associated with the name Martyn.
The name Martyn experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century, with a noticeable peak during the mid-1950s. Between 1954 and 1957, there were consistently high numbers of babies named Martyn, reaching an all-time high of 17 births in 1956. However, this trend did not continue, and the number of Martyn births began to decline steadily from the late 1950s onwards. The most recent data shows that the name Martyn has seen a slight resurgence since 2014, with consistent numbers of babies being named Martyn each year.