Martial is of Latin origin and means 'of Mars,' the Roman god of war. It was a popular name during the Roman Empire, often given to children born around the time of military campaigns. In France, Martial has traditionally been used as a male given name, with notable figures such as Martial Guillaumin, a French painter, bearing this name. The female form of the name is Martiale.
The name Martial has seen fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a notable spike in the 1960s and several periods of increased usage from the 1990s to the early 2010s.