Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Madonna
GirlItalian, Latin· “my lady”
- Meaning
- my lady
- Origin
- Italian, Latin
- Pronunciation
- muh-DAH-nuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #14,273
- US babies 2025
- 6
- Best rank
- #534 (1933)
- Peak year
- 1954
Meaning and origin of Madonna
Madonna is an Italian and Latin name that means “my lady”.
Madonna is the Italian ma donna, my lady, from the Latin mea domina. In Italian and in English it became a title of the Virgin Mary, and it names countless paintings of Mary and the Christ child. As a given name it was used in Italian and Italian American families, and the singer Madonna, whose given name it is, made it world famous. It is said muh-DAH-nuh. The strong association with the singer means the name is rarely chosen today without that connection in mind. Donna is a natural short form with the same root.
Popularity over time
Madonna first appears in US Social Security records in 1897. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 57 different years, starting in 1909. Its best national rank was #534 in 1933, and the most babies received it in 1954, when 211 were named Madonna. In 2025, 6 babies were named Madonna, and it ranked #14,273 nationally. That is 54% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #765 in 1920, #639 in 1950, #2,299 in 1980, #5,850 in 2000, #16,200 in 2010, and #14,273 in 2025. Of the 9,560 US girls named Madonna since records began, 20% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 1,572 babies. Since 2010, 115 more have been named Madonna.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Cinda, Minerva, Nanci, Sheilah, and Debbra.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Madonna is usually pronounced muh-DAH-nuh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with M and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Madonna
A few middle names that flow with Madonna: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Madonna
Similar names
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Lists that include Madonna
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Madonna mean?
Madonna is an Italian and Latin name that means “my lady”.
What is the origin of the name Madonna?
Madonna has Italian and Latin roots. Madonna is the Italian ma donna, my lady, from the Latin mea domina.
Is Madonna a popular name?
Not especially. Madonna ranked #14,273 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Madonna a boy or girl name?
Madonna is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Madonna?
Madonna is usually pronounced muh-DAH-nuh. 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