"woman from Magdala"
Origin: Hebrew via Greek
Language: English
Madeleine
Pronunciation: [ m-ad-uhl-EHN ]
Does Madeleine flow with your last name?
French elegance with centuries of literary grace
French
English
German
Scandinavian
Literary
Elegant
Vintage
Classic
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Nicknames
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Meaning & Origin
"tower, high place"
Origin: Hebrew (Migdal)
Language: Hebrew
"of the Magdalene order"
Origin: Latin via French
Language: French
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The Story of Madeleine
Madeleine is the French form of Magdalene, derived from the Hebrew Magdala, a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee meaning 'tower' or 'elevated.' The name became widely used in Christian Europe through Mary Magdalene, one of the most prominent women in the New Testament. The French form Madeleine has been used since medieval times and gained literary immortality through Proust's famous madeleines passage in 'In Search of Lost Time.'
Madeleine has enjoyed sustained popularity in France and English-speaking countries, buoyed by the beloved children's book series by Ludwig Bemelmans featuring the intrepid Parisian schoolgirl. The name peaked in the US in the 1990s-2000s.
In French culture, Madeleine carries both religious significance (Mary Magdalene) and literary prestige through Proust. The madeleine pastry is named after the saint, and the 'Proustian madeleine' has become a universal metaphor for involuntary memory and nostalgia.
Historical Record
Madeleine first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 37,120 babies have been named Madeleine in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Madeleine is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #437 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The madeleine pastry is traditionally said to be named after Mary Magdalene
- Ludwig Bemelmans' 'Madeleine' children's books, first published in 1939, have never gone out of print
Madeleine in Other Languages
Arabic
مادلين
French
Madeleine
German
Magdalene
Italian
Maddalena
Spanish
Magdalena
Japanese
マドレーヌ
Popularity Over Time
#437
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Madeleine
M
Madeleine Albright
Politician
1937
First female U.S. Secretary of State, serving 1997-2001 under President Clinton
M
Madeleine L'Engle
Writer
1918
American author of 'A Wrinkle in Time' and beloved young adult science fiction novels
M
Madeleine Fictional
Other
The brave, adventurous Parisian schoolgirl protagonist of Ludwig Bemelmans' classic children's book series
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Compare Madeleine with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #437
- Total SSA Count
- 707
- Cultural Origins
- French English German Scandinavian
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Maddie
Maddy
Ellie
Lena
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, French heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Madeleine
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Madeleine is also used as a boy name, ranked #40942.
View Madeleine as a boy name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (French)
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English nature name origin
"trembling tree"
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Latin avis + Hebrew Hannah origin
"bird + grace"
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Greek origin
"crowned one"
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Frequently Asked Questions About Madeleine
What does the name Madeleine mean?
"woman from Magdala" (from Hebrew via Greek). "tower, high place" (from Hebrew (Migdal)). "of the Magdalene order" (from Latin via French). Madeleine is the French form of Magdalene, derived from the Hebrew Magdala, a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee meaning 'tower' or 'elevated.' The name became widely used in Christian Europe through Mary Magdalene, one of the most prominent women in the New Testament. The French form Madeleine has been used since medieval times and gained literary immortality through Proust's famous madeleines passage in 'In Search of Lost Time.'
What is the origin of the name Madeleine?
Madeleine has Hebrew via Greek, Hebrew (Migdal), Latin via French, French, English, German, and Scandinavian origins. In Hebrew via Greek, it means "woman from Magdala". In Hebrew (Migdal), it means "tower, high place". In Latin via French, it means "of the Magdalene order".
Is Madeleine a boy or girl name?
Madeleine is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #437. As a boy name, it is ranked #40942. Madeleine is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Madeleine?
Madeleine is pronounced m-ad-uhl-EHN.
How popular is the name Madeleine?
Madeleine is currently ranked #437 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Madeleine?
Common nicknames for Madeleine include Maddie, Maddy, Ellie, and Lena.
What are good middle names for Madeleine?
Popular middle name pairings include Madeleine Rose, Madeleine Claire, Madeleine Anne, Madeleine Louise, Madeleine Grace, and Madeleine Frances.
What are good sibling names for Madeleine?
Names that pair well with Madeleine as siblings include Josephine, Eleanor, Cecily, Sebastian, Hugo, and Beatrice.
How many syllables does Madeleine have?
Madeleine has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Madeleine a common or rare name?
Madeleine is a popular name, ranked #437 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.
What girl names are similar to Madeleine?
About the Name Madeleine
Madeleine is a girl name with French, English, German, and Scandinavian origins . The name means "woman from Magdala" in Hebrew via Greek .
Is Madeleine a boy or girl name? Madeleine is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #437 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #40,942. Madeleine is more commonly used as a girl name.
Madeleine is currently ranked #437 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Madeleine has 3 syllables and is pronounced m-ad-uhl-EHN, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Madeleine include Maddie, Maddy, Ellie, and Lena. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Madeleine include Madelyn, Madeline, Madelynn, Madelyne, Madelin . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis