Laura or Martha?

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As the title suggests. Which would you use?

Martha! I've known 2 in my many years of teaching and both were so kind & lovely that the name always brings a smile to my face!!

Laura but it makes me think of people born in the 1980s.
Both names are nice.
I used to think Martha was too linked with the biblical character, so do think drudge a little, but I'm only mentioning that because someone has already done so.

Which goes best with the surname?

Surname is Ellis

LOVE Laura!

Laura is similar to Lauren, Laurel

Either will sound fine. Nice surname.

Please don't use a filler middle name. Most of the Lauras I know are Laura Jane.
Rose, May and Grace are overused as middle names.

Lots of Marthas coming through preschool at the moment, so I would avoid for that reason. I haven't had a Laura since the early 90's, but I agree with others that it's a lovely name.

What about Lara?

Both are great names. I'd go with Laura as it is timeless and Martha ebbs and flows.

i was at school and uni with so many Laura’s and was born late 80s. We had more Laura’s than Lauren’s.

I associate Martha with the Marthas in a handmaids tale but nobody else has mentioned that so maybe not a common link to make.
Laura is a lovely name which might well be due a revival. I was born in the 80s and went to school with 5 Lauras. Still have 3 Lauras as some of my closest friends so can never refer to them without using their surname.

Laura

Martha definitely a beautiful timeless name. About 16 years ago Laura was over used

Martha. Laura is a bit of a mums name now as it was very popular in 80s & 90s. I only know one Martha and she’s lovely

Martha is “Handmaid’s Tale” for me, I find it a really ugly name.

Laura is lovely.

Ive worked with a 20 something year old Martha and found her to be cold, selfish and snobby - she ruined the name for me!

Laura - classic. They'll be a lot around aged about 35-50 but she'll likely be the only one in her class and it's simple and pretty.

Martha - hipster trendy again now. I also find it a bit drudgy sounding personally.

Laura ❤
I know a Marla too, as a consideration, I like that better than Martha.

Completely fascinating perceptions of popularity here. Laura for me is in the same box as Gemma, Hannah, Sarah, Emma etc as one of the 80s names that occurred many times over in my girls’ school - the kind of name where I feel I need to add the surname to clarify which one I mean. It was absolutely everywhere!

Martha had a small boost a few years ago but has never bothered the top 50 and never will because as this thread shows it’s pretty Marmite. It must be one of those names that features in very local micro-trends if there are several pp who perceive it to be very popular, because statistically it really isn’t.

Martha was at the top of my list for my daughter born 24 years ago. However I went for another name in the end as I'm a teacher and Arthur was having a surge, I didn't want her to be an adult Martha dating an Arthur!

Laura. I know a Martha who is called 'Marf' by everyone, including parents, which is truly horrible!

Now I can't stop singing "Tell Laura I love her".

This is a good point - I have to admit we wouldn’t have used Martha if we had still been living in London.

Laura, for sure!
Timeless classic in my opinion
Elegant, feminine yet strong

Martha is beautiful name