What Does the Name Madeline Mean?
Madeline means 'from Magdala' or 'woman of the tower,' referring to the ancient town of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee. The town's Hebrew name, migdal, means 'tower.' The name is inseparable from Mary Magdalene, a central figure in the New Testament.
The Origin & History of Madeline
The name spread through medieval France as Madeleine before crossing into English as Madeline and Madeleine. It has a long literary pedigree, appearing in poems by Keats and Tennyson and in Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby, but it is best known today through Ludwig Bemelmans's Madeline picture books, which follow a spirited French schoolgirl of the same name.
Popularity in the United States
Madeline has stayed inside the US top 100 girls' names continuously since 2000, peaking at #56 in 2008 on the strength of the Bemelmans books' enduring popularity, and it holds around #81 today.
Personality & Traits
Madeline feels classic, literary, and a little spirited, carrying both the gravity of its biblical roots and the plucky charm of its most famous storybook namesake.
Famous People Named Madeline
Madeline Manning, an Olympic gold-medal-winning track athlete at the 1968 Mexico City Games, and Madeline Kahn, the Tony- and Emmy-winning actress known for Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles, are notable bearers. Novelist Madeline Miller wrote the bestsellers The Song of Achilles and Circe.
Nicknames & Variations
Maddie, Maddy, and Lena are common nicknames. Madeleine, Madelyn, Madelynn, and Magdalena are related spellings and forms across languages.