Madeleine

At a Glance: Name: Madeleine – Meaning: woman from Magdala (a town whose name means 'tower') – Origin: French (from Hebrew via Magdala) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: MAD-uh-lin

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Madeleine traces back through French to Hebrew, rooted in Magdala, a town whose own name meant 'tower' — so at its root, the name points to a woman from Magdala. It's pronounced MAD-uh-lin, and it carries a classic, storybook romance that still reads as familiar rather than fussy.

Meaning & Origin of Madeleine

Meaning: Woman from magdala (a town whose name means 'tower').

Origin: French (from Hebrew via Magdala).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Madeleine

Phonetic: MAD-uh-lin   IPA: /ˈmædəlɪn/

Popularity of Madeleine

In 2024, 707 girls were named Madeleine, ranking it #437 nationally — a good distance from its high point in 1998, when it hit #217 with 1,424 babies given the name.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.

Make Madeleine Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Madeleine, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Clementine
• Elise
• Gabrielle
• Isabelle
• Manon
• Marceline

FAQ

What does the name Madeleine mean?

Woman from magdala (a town whose name means ‘tower’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Madeleine)

How do you pronounce Madeleine?

Madeleine is pronounced MAD-uh-lin (IPA: /ˈmædəlɪn/).

Is Madeleine a popular name right now?

Madeleine peaked at #217 in 1998 and is ranked #437 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)

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