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At a Glance: Name: Mortimer – Meaning: dead pond / still water – Origin: Anglo-Norman/Old French (place name) – Gender: primarily used for boys
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.
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.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2023.
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Mortimer mean?
Dead pond / still water. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Mortimer)
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.)
📊 How popular is Mortimer? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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