Names › Girls' names › M › Madeline
Madeline
Meaning: of Magdala ('tower') · Origin: English (from Aramaic via French) · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
The traditional English form of Magdalene, a title meaning 'of Magdala' — Mary Magdalene's village on the Sea of Galilee, whose name meant 'tower' in Aramaic. Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline picture books (from 1939) made it a children's classic.
Famous people named Madeline
- Madeline Kahn (actor)
Nicknames
Maddie, Maddy
Variants & related names
Madeleine, Madelyn, Magdalene
Madeline name art
A free preview of a printable “Madeline” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Madeline mean?
Madeline means “of Magdala ('tower')”. It comes from English (from Aramaic via French).
Is Madeline a popular name?
Yes — Madeline has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Madeline?
Maddie, Maddy.
What are other forms of Madeline?
Madeleine, Madelyn, Magdalene.
Similar names
Rosie · Faith · Hailey · Hope · Molly · Piper
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Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.