Mortimer

At a Glance

Meaning

Dead pond / still water

Origin

Anglo-Norman/Old French (place name)

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

MOR-tih-merListen

Mortimer traces back to Anglo-Norman/Old French roots as a place name, and its literal meaning is "dead pond" or "still water." You may see it claimed that Mortimer means "dead sea," but that's not quite right — the original French element points to a still pond, not the sea, so "dead pond" or "still water" is the more accurate gloss. If you're drawn to a name with an old, place-rooted history, Mortimer fits that description exactly.

Meaning & Origin of Mortimer

Meaning: Dead pond / still water.

Origin: Anglo-Norman/Old French (place name).

A common claim: Mortimer is often said to mean 'dead sea.' Actually: The original French place-name element refers to a still pond, not the sea — so 'dead pond'/'still water' is the more accurate gloss.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Mortimer

Popularity of Mortimer

Mortimer hit its high point in 1882, ranking #481 with 15 babies given the name that year. By 2023, it had fallen all the way to #13519, with just 5 babies recorded — a steep drop across the SSA's 1880-2023 data range.

Names Like Mortimer

These names have followed a similar path to Mortimer in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Almina
• Marrion
• Arah
• Lewie
• Olaf
• Orel

FAQ

What does the name Mortimer mean?

Dead pond / still water. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Mortimer?

Mortimer is pronounced MOR-tih-mer (IPA: /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/).

Is Mortimer a popular name right now?

Mortimer peaked at #481 in 1882 and is ranked #13519 as of 2023. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2023.)

Make Mortimer Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Mortimer, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.