Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Madeline
GirlEnglish, French· “of Magdala”
- Meaning
- of Magdala
- Origin
- English, French
- Pronunciation
- MAD-uh-lihn
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #81
- US babies 2025
- 3,086
- Best rank
- #50 (1998)
- Peak year
- 1998
Meaning and origin of Madeline
Madeline is an English and French name that means “of Magdala”.
Madeline is the English form of the French Madeleine, which comes from Magdalene, the byname of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. Magdalene means of Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee whose name is usually linked with a word for tower. Medieval devotion to Mary Magdalene spread the name across Europe. Ludwig Bemelmans later created Madeline, the brave little schoolgirl of the illustrated books set in Paris. The name feels gentle, classic and slightly French. Maddie and Maddy are nicknames, and Madelyn is a popular alternative spelling.
Other spellings with the same sound: Madelin.
Popularity over time
Madeline has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #50 in 1998, the same year it reached its highest count of 5,869 babies. In 2025, 3,086 babies were named Madeline, and it ranked #81 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #138 in 1920, #281 in 1950, #723 in 1980, #56 in 2000, #77 in 2010, and #81 in 2025. Of the 207,385 US girls named Madeline since records began, 23% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 36,967 babies. Since 2010, 49,363 more have been named Madeline.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Sierra, Sabrina, Gabrielle, Bailey, and Autumn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Madeline ranked highest in New Hampshire, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | #33 | 28 |
| Virginia | #50 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | #52 | 97 |
| Wyoming | #52 | 7 |
| Arizona | #57 | 84 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Madeline is usually pronounced MAD-uh-lihn, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with M and ends in “-ne”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Madelin.
Middle names for Madeline
A few middle names that flow with Madeline: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Madeline
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Lists that include Madeline
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Madeline mean?
Madeline is an English and French name that means “of Magdala”.
What is the origin of the name Madeline?
Madeline has English, French, and Hebrew roots. Madeline is the English form of the French Madeleine, which comes from Magdalene, the byname of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels.
Is Madeline a popular name?
Yes. Madeline ranked #81 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Madeline a boy or girl name?
Madeline is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Madeline?
Madeline is usually pronounced MAD-uh-lihn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings