Martí

Martí is a personal name and surname used in Catalan and Spanish-speaking regions. In Catalan, Martí (with an acute accent) is a given name equivalent to Martin. As a surname, Martí is common in Spain and many Latin American countries, where the accent on the i is often retained to indicate stress.

Etymology and usage: The name derives from the Latin Martinus, itself from Mars, and has been used since antiquity, in part due to Saint Martin of Tours, a widely venerated early Christian figure. The form Martí appears in both given-name and surname traditions across different communities.

Notable figures: The most internationally recognized bearer is José Martí (1853–1895), a Cuban poet, essayist, and pivotal figure in the Cuban struggle for independence. He founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party and produced influential works such as Versos Sencillos and Nuestra América, which contributed to Cuban national consciousness and Latin American thought.

Other occurrences: Beyond José Martí, Martí appears as a surname in Spain and across the Americas, where various individuals in politics, literature, science, and the arts bear the name. In Catalonia and other Catalan-speaking areas, Martí remains a common given name, reflecting historical naming practices and regional linguistic traditions.