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Madeleine Name Origin: French
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Pronunciation: mah-da-layn, mah-da-lin
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See what 3 people think about Madeleine
Madeleine Name Meaning
The name Madeleine has a rich history and a charming French origin. But before we dive into the details of its past, let’s first answer the question on everyone’s mind: why is it such a popular name for girls?
Popularity of the Name Madeleine
Well, for starters, it’s a classic and timeless name that never goes out of style. It’s been popular for centuries and shows no signs of losing its charm. Plus, it has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it stand out from other names.
But, perhaps the biggest reason for its popularity is its association with the iconic Madeleine cookie. The delicate, buttery goodness of the French treat is enough to make anyone want to name their daughter after it. (Just kidding, or are we?)
The History and Origin of the Name Madeleine
The name Madeleine has its roots in France and has been around for centuries. It’s derived from the Latin name Magdalena, which means “woman from Magdala.” Magdala was a village on the Sea of Galilee in ancient Israel, and it was there that Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ most prominent followers, was said to have come from.
In the Middle Ages, the name became popular in France and was often given to girls who were born on a Sunday, as Sunday was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This association with the Virgin Mary led to the name becoming popular among French nobles and the upper classes.
Meaning of the Name Madeleine
The name Madeleine has a few different meanings, depending on where you look. Some sources say it means “woman from Magdala,” while others say it means “of the tower” or “woman from the tower.” But perhaps the most popular meaning is “pearl,” which is fitting for a name as precious and lovely as Madeleine.
Famous Madeleines
There have been many famous people throughout history who have borne the name Madeleine, but perhaps the most famous is Madeleine Albright, the first female Secretary of State in the United States. She served under President Bill Clinton and made history as the highest-ranking woman in the U.S. government at the time.
Another famous Madeleine is Madeleine L’Engle, an American author best known for writing the classic children’s book “A Wrinkle in Time.”
In literature, Madeleine is also known as the central character in Marcel Proust’s novel “In Search of Lost Time.” She is a fictional character, and the narrator’s childhood friend and sweetheart.
In conclusion, The name Madeleine has a charming French origin, a rich history, and multiple meanings. It’s a timeless and classic name that has been popular for centuries, and shows no signs of losing its charm. It’s also associated with some famous people and a famous literary character, making it all the more alluring. Whether you’re naming your daughter or just looking for a unique and lovely name, Madeleine is definitely worth considering.
Infographic of Madeleine name meaning, which is A French variant of Magdalene, Madeleine means woman from Magdala.
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Madeleine Name Popularity
How popular is the name Madeleine? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
520 |
28 |
0.008% |
| 1911 |
446 |
46 |
0.0124% |
| 1912 |
403 |
92 |
0.0182% |
| 1913 |
460 |
77 |
0.0136% |
| 1914 |
430 |
116 |
0.0166% |
| 1915 |
474 |
125 |
0.0138% |
| 1916 |
509 |
122 |
0.0126% |
| 1917 |
535 |
114 |
0.0114% |
| 1918 |
516 |
135 |
0.0126% |
| 1919 |
541 |
119 |
0.0114% |
| 1920 |
482 |
159 |
0.0143% |
| 1921 |
451 |
188 |
0.0164% |
| 1922 |
454 |
184 |
0.0165% |
| 1923 |
515 |
144 |
0.0129% |
| 1924 |
483 |
165 |
0.0142% |
| 1925 |
464 |
174 |
0.0154% |
| 1926 |
469 |
169 |
0.0154% |
| 1927 |
513 |
145 |
0.0131% |
| 1928 |
554 |
114 |
0.0107% |
| 1929 |
509 |
131 |
0.0126% |
| 1930 |
549 |
108 |
0.0103% |
| 1931 |
572 |
89 |
0.009% |
| 1932 |
597 |
79 |
0.008% |
| 1933 |
552 |
88 |
0.0094% |
| 1934 |
605 |
75 |
0.0078% |
| 1935 |
599 |
74 |
0.0076% |
| 1936 |
608 |
73 |
0.0076% |
| 1937 |
532 |
111 |
0.0113% |
| 1938 |
528 |
120 |
0.0117% |
| 1939 |
471 |
157 |
0.0154% |
| 1940 |
484 |
152 |
0.0143% |
| 1941 |
487 |
155 |
0.0138% |
| 1942 |
433 |
238 |
0.0188% |
| 1943 |
493 |
179 |
0.0137% |
| 1944 |
609 |
102 |
0.0082% |
| 1945 |
570 |
116 |
0.0095% |
| 1946 |
576 |
142 |
0.0096% |
| 1947 |
586 |
163 |
0.0098% |
| 1948 |
564 |
167 |
0.0105% |
| 1949 |
566 |
170 |
0.0106% |
| 1950 |
600 |
149 |
0.0093% |
| 1951 |
720 |
104 |
0.0061% |
| 1952 |
758 |
93 |
0.0053% |
| 1953 |
780 |
94 |
0.0053% |
| 1954 |
773 |
99 |
0.0054% |
| 1955 |
836 |
86 |
0.0047% |
| 1956 |
821 |
97 |
0.0051% |
| 1957 |
951 |
71 |
0.0037% |
| 1958 |
1,015 |
63 |
0.0033% |
| 1959 |
915 |
82 |
0.0043% |
| 1960 |
1,084 |
53 |
0.0028% |
| 1961 |
1,041 |
64 |
0.0034% |
| 1962 |
970 |
74 |
0.004% |
| 1963 |
1,006 |
64 |
0.0036% |
| 1964 |
1,138 |
48 |
0.0027% |
| 1965 |
1,127 |
44 |
0.0027% |
| 1966 |
1,191 |
37 |
0.0024% |
| 1967 |
1,424 |
23 |
0.0015% |
| 1968 |
1,776 |
13 |
0.0009% |
| 1969 |
1,772 |
15 |
0.001% |
| 1970 |
1,964 |
12 |
0.0008% |
| 1971 |
2,070 |
10 |
0.0007% |
| 1972 |
1,587 |
21 |
0.0015% |
| 1973 |
1,778 |
16 |
0.0012% |
| 1974 |
1,818 |
15 |
0.0012% |
| 1975 |
1,811 |
16 |
0.0012% |
| 1976 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1977 |
2,436 |
7 |
0.0005% |
| 1978 |
2,451 |
7 |
0.0005% |
| 1979 |
2,180 |
12 |
0.0009% |
| 1980 |
2,021 |
16 |
0.0011% |
| 1981 |
2,811 |
6 |
0.0004% |
| 1982 |
2,197 |
13 |
0.0009% |
| 1983 |
1,648 |
27 |
0.0018% |
| 1984 |
1,759 |
23 |
0.0015% |
| 1985 |
1,312 |
52 |
0.0034% |
| 1986 |
926 |
118 |
0.0078% |
| 1987 |
766 |
181 |
0.0119% |
| 1988 |
772 |
189 |
0.0121% |
| 1989 |
723 |
226 |
0.014% |
| 1990 |
575 |
357 |
0.0215% |
| 1991 |
502 |
430 |
0.0264% |
| 1992 |
463 |
493 |
0.0309% |
| 1993 |
383 |
626 |
0.0402% |
| 1994 |
296 |
896 |
0.0584% |
| 1995 |
277 |
964 |
0.064% |
| 1996 |
261 |
1,061 |
0.0709% |
| 1997 |
231 |
1,272 |
0.086% |
| 1998 |
215 |
1,404 |
0.0938% |
| 1999 |
275 |
1,112 |
0.0743% |
| 2000 |
281 |
1,117 |
0.0731% |
| 2001 |
281 |
1,082 |
0.0718% |
| 2002 |
293 |
1,030 |
0.0687% |
| 2003 |
328 |
922 |
0.0606% |
| 2004 |
337 |
922 |
0.0605% |
| 2005 |
328 |
944 |
0.0617% |
| 2006 |
336 |
943 |
0.0602% |
| 2007 |
290 |
1,144 |
0.0725% |
| 2008 |
270 |
1,223 |
0.0791% |
| 2009 |
329 |
966 |
0.0646% |
| 2010 |
323 |
957 |
0.0664% |
| 2011 |
312 |
964 |
0.0677% |
| 2012 |
288 |
1,053 |
0.0739% |
| 2013 |
274 |
1,112 |
0.0781% |
| 2014 |
278 |
1,119 |
0.0768% |
| 2015 |
296 |
1,035 |
0.0711% |
| 2016 |
341 |
920 |
0.0638% |
| 2017 |
356 |
816 |
0.0585% |
| 2018 |
362 |
787 |
0.0573% |
| 2019 |
352 |
829 |
0.0612% |
| 2020 |
396 |
732 |
0.0575% |
| 2021 |
394 |
704 |
0.0576% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Madeleine
If you like Madeleine, you’ll love these other names like Madeleine.
What names sound like Madeleine?
If you like how Madeleine sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Madeleine.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
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Madaleine
|
Woman from Magdala
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Hebrew
|
|
|
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Madelaine
|
Woman from Magdala
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Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Madelene
|
Woman from Magdala
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
What names are similar to Madeleine?
Find a name that’s like Madeleine, but just a little bit different.
Lists With Madeleine
Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Madeleine.
Siblings of Madeleine
Mamas with kids named Madeleine also have kids with these names.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Micaela
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Who resembles God?
|
Hebrew
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|
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