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The short answer
Madeline is a feminine name that is the English form of the French name Madeleine, which itself derives from Magdalene, referring to Mary Magdalene of the New Testament ("of Magdala", a place on the Sea of Galilee). Behind the Name notes it is also the name of the heroine of Ludwig Bemelmans's children's books, first published in 1939, which has shaped much of its modern appeal. It is pronounced MAD-ə-lin. In the United States it ranked #81 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name describes Madeline as the "English form of Madeleine", which is itself the French form of Magdalene. Magdalene ultimately comes from the place name Magdala, on the Sea of Galilee, and was the byname of Mary Magdalene in the New Testament. Behind the Name adds that Madeline is also the name of the heroine of a series of children's books by Austrian-American author Ludwig Bemelmans, first published in 1939 — a major source of the name's modern recognition in English.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Place name | Magdala | a town on the Sea of Galilee |
Popularity
Madeline ranked #81 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #81 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Maddie, Maddy, Madi
Variants: Madeleine, Madelyn, Madalyn, Madelynn, Madilyn, Madilynn, Madlyn, Madelaine, Madelina, Madoline
Related names: Magdalena, Magdalene, Madeleine
What the name feels like
Madeline sits comfortably between the storybook charm of the Bemelmans character and the classical weight of its Magdalene root. It reads as a soft, three-syllable French-English name with a well-worn nickname (Maddie) that keeps it approachable.
Style tags: storybook name, French-English, three syllables, classic revival
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. The Bemelmans association is a documented cultural reference from Behind the Name, not part of the name's etymology.
If you like this name
Names that share Madeline's French-English sound or its Magdalene root.
Similar by sound
Similar by meaning
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Madeline mean?
Madeline is the English form of Madeleine, ultimately from Magdalene, referring to the biblical Mary Magdalene, whose byname came from the place name Magdala.
Is Madeline a popular name?
Yes. Madeline ranked #81 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are nicknames for Madeline?
Common short forms are Maddie, Maddy, and Madi.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Madeline — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants, history.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Madeleine — supports etymology, root.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
