Madeline
Madeleine or Madeline has biblical origins. The name Magdalena is derived from the Aramaic term "Magdala" (מגדלא), meaning "tower" or "elevated, great." It refers to the town of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, traditionally identified as the hometown of Mary Magdalene, a prominent figure in the New Testament who was a follower of Jesus.
Meaning & Origin of Madeline
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Madeleine or Madeline has biblical origins. The name Magdalena is derived from the Aramaic term "Magdala" (מגדלא), meaning "tower" or "elevated, great." It refers to the town of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, traditionally identified as the hometown of Mary Magdalene, a prominent figure in the New Testament who was a follower of Jesus.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Madeline
Madeline first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1880, with 22 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 5,869 Madelines were born — ranking #50 that year. As of 2026, Madeline ranks #86 for baby girls with 2,856 births, holding steady (-2%). In total, more than 210K Madelines have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Madeline
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Madeleine of Valois (1520–1537), French princess who was briefly Queen consort of Scotland through her marriage to James V of Scotland
- Madeleine Albright (1937–2022), American politician and the first woman United States Secretary of State
- Madeleine Astor (1893–1940), American socialite, second wife and widow of millionaire John Jacob Astor IV and a survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster
- Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779–1865), French Catholic saint and founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart
- Madelaine Bavent (1602–1652), French nun accused and convicted of witchcraft
- Madeleine Béjart (1618–1672), French actress and theatre director
- Madeleine Brès (1842–1921), first French woman to obtain a medical degree
- Madeleine Boll (born 1953), Swiss footballer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Madeline
Phonetically similar names — useful when Madeline is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Madeline
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About the name Madeline
Madeline is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 210K births in the dataset. Madeline's peak popularity came in 1998 when it ranked #50. Use the chart and map above to compare Madeline's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1998 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.