Origin, Meaning, And History of Madeleine
The baby name Madeline is a French and English term that originates from the Greek word Magdalene, meaning ‘of Magdala.’ Magdala was the name of a Jewish city by Galilee’s seashore. It could also mean ‘an elevated tower.’ In German, Madeleine also means little girls, taken from the word Mädelein.
This name is associated with Saint Mary Magdalene of Galilee, one of Jesus’s followers in the New Testament, a title meaning ‘of Magdala.’ She was named so because she hailed from the village of Magdala, which in turn meant ‘tower.’ Saint Mary Magdalene is the “apostle of apostles” and is believed to have been the closest disciple of Jesus, who deeply understood the Gnostic texts. She was an independent and empathetic disciple who supported His ministry with her wealth of knowledge and riches. In addition, she was known for her leadership qualities, such as determination and her passion for serving mankind.
According to the canonical gospels, Saint Magdalene witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, thus gaining some of the most mentions in the four gospels. In addition, the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and Protestant churches consider her a saint and heroine of the faith.
The name has several spelling variations in different cultures and languages. Some of them are Magdalena in German, Magdalen, Madeleine, Magdalena, and Madeline in English, Magdalena and Magdalina in Bulgarian, Malene, Magdalena, Magda, Lena in Danish, and Madalena and Magda in Portuguese. The bynames associated with Madeleine include Maddy, Maddie, Leine, Alena, Lena, Lene, Leni, Magda, and Lena.
There are several popular fictional characters with the name Madeleine. Some of them include Madeline from Ludwig Bemelmans’ children’s book series, Madeline “Maddy” Whittier of Nicola Yoon’s novel “Everything, Everything,” Madeline Mackenzie, the main character in the limited T.V. series “Big Little Lies,” Madeline “Mads” Ryback, the daughter of Alec in the T.V. show “The Lying Game,” Madeleine Hanna, the star of Jeffrey Eugenides’ 2011 book “The Marriage Plot,” and Madeline Wayne, the main character of the American sitcom “Oh Madeline.”
Madeleine
How To Pronounce Madeleine?
Famous People With The Name Madeleine
- Madeline StuartA famous Australian model with down syndrome and an advocate of the disability community
- Madeline AndersonThe first African-American producer and director of a TV documentary and a syndicated TV series
- Madeline ManningAn American track and field athlete and Olympic gold medalist during the 1968 Mexico Olympics
- Madeleine AlbrightThe first female U.S. Secretary of State from Prague
Madeleine On The Popularity Chart
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration charts, Madeleine gained steady popularity after 1985, with slight dips in the graph. Explore the graphs below for better insights.
Popularity Over Time
The popularity of this name rose from 54 babies per million in 1980 to 1424 babies per million in 1998. After this point, it has seen an erratic pattern in popularity.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Madeleine was ranked in 1970 in 1980. The rank dropped in the year 1982 but has been increasing steadily since.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Madeleine
The name Madeleine is pronounced as “mad-uh line.” Here are a few names with a similar sound to this name.
Popular Sibling Names For Madeleine
Other Popular Names Beginning With M
Names With Similar Meaning As Madeleine
If you liked the meaning of this name, we have more options with similar meanings for you to explore.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Madeleine
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Madeleine?
The name Madeleine means of magdala in hebrew, and variant transcription of magdalena.
2. What is the origin of the name Madeleine?
Madeleine has a French and Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Madeleine?
Madeleine is pronounced as mah-duh-lih.
