Madeleine
Madeleine is a girls' name of French origin meaning “woman from Magdala, elevated tower.” It ranked #454 in the United States in 2025. Forever linked with Proust's famous madeleine cake that triggered an avalanche of memory in 'In Search of Lost Time.'
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how do you pronounce Madeleine?
mad-LEN
where does the name Madeleine come from?
Through Magdalena from the Aramaic Magdala, tower, or elevated and great: the town on the Sea of Galilee traditionally held to be Mary Magdalene's home.
The name also honors Mary Magdalene and has deep roots in French culture. It evokes nostalgia, literary refinement, and the sweetness of remembrance.
how popular is this name?
Madeleine has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 117 years since 1881, and fell outside it for 28. It peaked at #217 in 1998, and ranked #454 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #454 |
| 2024 | #440 |
| 2023 | #444 |
| 2022 | #383 |
| 2021 | #382 |
| 2020 | #397 |
| 2019 | #369 |
| 2018 | #377 |
| 2017 | #367 |
| 2016 | #350 |
| 2010 | #321 |
| 2000 | #280 |
| 1998 | #217 |
| 1990 | #576 |
| 1950 | #616 |
| 1940 | #497 |
| 1930 | #592 |
| 1920 | #448 |
| 1910 | #570 |
| 1900 | #437 |
| 1890 | #462 |
| 1881 | #830 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Madeleine fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Madeleine
Madeleine is recorded as a Swedish name as early as 1788.
who are famous people named Madeleine?
- Madeleine de Scudéry (17th-century French novelist)
- Madeleine Albright (first female U.S. Secretary of State)
what are the nicknames and variants of Madeleine?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Madeleine?
what names go well with Madeleine?
Sibling names that share Madeleine's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Madeleine
What does the name Madeleine mean?
Madeleine means “woman from Magdala, elevated tower”.
What is the origin of the name Madeleine?
Madeleine comes from the French naming tradition. Related forms include Madeline and Magdalena.
How popular is the name Madeleine?
Madeleine ranked #454 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1998, at #217, and it has spent 117 years in the top 1,000 since 1881.
Is Madeleine a boy or girl name?
Madeleine is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Madeleine?
Madeleine is pronounced mad-LEN, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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