Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Magdalena
GirlHebrew, Aramaic· “woman from Magdala”
- Meaning
- woman from Magdala
- Origin
- Hebrew, Aramaic
- Pronunciation
- mag-duh-LAY-nuh
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #850
- US babies 2025
- 320
- Best rank
- #311 (1882)
- Peak year
- 2007
Meaning and origin of Magdalena
Magdalena is a Hebrew and Aramaic name that means “woman from Magdala”.
Magdalena is the Latin and European form of Magdalene, the name by which Mary Magdalene is known in the Gospels. It means woman from Magdala, a town on the shore of the Sea of Galilee whose name comes from a Hebrew and Aramaic word for tower. Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus and a witness to the resurrection, and she has long been venerated as a saint. Magdalena is widely used in Polish, German, Spanish, Czech and Scandinavian countries. Lena, Magda and Maggie are warm nicknames.
Popularity over time
Magdalena 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 137 different years. Its best national rank was #311 in 1882, and the most babies received it in 2007, when 325 were named Magdalena. In 2025, 320 babies were named Magdalena, and it ranked #850 nationally. That is 36% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #789 in 1920, #914 in 1950, #905 in 1980, #896 in 2000, #1,086 in 2010, and #850 in 2025. Of the 19,773 US girls named Magdalena since records began, 14% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 2,457 babies. Since 2010, 4,219 more have been named Magdalena.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Marin, Abagail, Areli, Miya, and Jaslyn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Magdalena ranked highest in Iowa, Illinois, and Washington.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | #418 | 8 |
| Illinois | #535 | 19 |
| Washington | #565 | 12 |
| Utah | #580 | 7 |
| Pennsylvania | #636 | 16 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Magdalena is usually pronounced mag-duh-LAY-nuh, with four syllables. It has nine letters, starts with M and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Magdalena
A few middle names that flow with Magdalena: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Magdalena
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Lists that include Magdalena
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Magdalena mean?
Magdalena is a Hebrew and Aramaic name that means “woman from Magdala”.
What is the origin of the name Magdalena?
Magdalena has Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin roots. Magdalena is the Latin and European form of Magdalene, the name by which Mary Magdalene is known in the Gospels.
Is Magdalena a popular name?
Yes. Magdalena ranked #850 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Magdalena a boy or girl name?
Magdalena is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Magdalena?
Magdalena is usually pronounced mag-duh-LAY-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