Madeleine Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Madeleine has its origins in Hebrew, meaning 'tower', and is closely linked to the biblical figure Mary Magdalene. Over time, it evolved through different languages, notably French, and is associated with elegance and sophistication in modern contexts. Its biblical relevance adds to its depth and historical significance, while its variants like Madeline and Maddie continue to be popular today.
The name Madeleine is most popular in New Hampshire, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Madeleine has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Madeleine' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14347th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 23106th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 482nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 554th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 841st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1892nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 560th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 290th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 355th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Madeleine' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Madeleine"
Pronunciation
/ˌmæd.əˈleɪn/
Origin
French
Etymology
The name Madeleine is derived from the Hebrew name Magdala, which means 'tower' and refers to Mary Magdalene in the New Testament.
Meaning
tower
Language Evolution
Magdala, Madeleine, Madeline
Biblical Background
The name is associated with Mary Magdalene, a significant figure in the New Testament.
Historical Usage
Madeleine gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in France, and has since spread to various cultures.
Variants & Derivatives
Madeline, Maddie, Maddalena
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Madeleine is perceived as a classic and elegant name, often evoking a sense of sophistication.
Famous People
Madeleine Albright, Madeleine L'Engle, Madeleine Peyroux
Explore More Madeleine Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Madeleine"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Madeleine"
"Madeleine" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 14347th of 16616 | 10 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 23106th of 23106 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 482nd of 9107 | 3,598 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 554th of 9204 | 2,875 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 841st of 12526 | 2,693 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1892nd of 19264 | 753 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 560th of 27321 | 6,291 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 290th of 35406 | 17,555 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 355th of 30306 | 10,679 |
Regional Popularity of "Madeleine" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
62.19% 3230th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Madeleine" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
38.91% 551st/1416 |
18.13% 250th/1379 |
60.52% 1432nd/2366 |
43.43% 496th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
40.04% 619th/1546 |
18.32% 285th/1556 |
57.88% 1362nd/2353 |
37.56% 581st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
38.71% 862nd/2227 |
20.53% 499th/2430 |
54.36% 1551st/2853 |
30.77% 854th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
85.12% 2500th/2937 |
39.19% 1365th/3483 |
88.63% 3118th/3518 |
40.28% 1629th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
14.44% 532nd/3685 |
11.24% 503rd/4475 |
12.23% 635th/5194 |
8.26% 522nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
7.29% 334th/4582 |
4.32% 223rd/5164 |
4.29% 314th/7313 |
3.93% 293rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
11.80% 470th/3984 |
5.95% 267th/4487 |
6.02% 411th/6822 |
5.07% 318th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Madeleine"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Madeleine" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.