Madelaine

Madelaine is a variation of the name Madeleine, the French form of Magdalena, a biblical name. It means 'the one from Magdala' and refers to the biblical figure Mary Magdalene, who is known as a disciple of Jesus Christ. She was born in Magdala, a town by the Sea of Galilee, which led to her nickname 'Magdalena.'

What does the name Madelaine mean?

The name Madelaine is a variation of Madeleine, which is the French form of the biblical name Magdalena. The name means 'the one from Magdala' and refers to Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus Christ, who was born in Magdala by the Sea of Galilee. The place name 'Magdala' comes from the Hebrew word migdal, which means 'tower,' which is why the name can also be interpreted as 'the exalted one.' Like Madeleine, the form Madelaine is primarily common in English and French-speaking regions as well as in Sweden, but it is also gaining attention in Germany. Popular alternatives to Magdalena include Maddalena (Italian), Madalena (Portuguese), Malena (Swedish, Spanish), and Malin (Norwegian, Swedish).

Where does the name Madelaine come from?

The name Madelaine has its roots in ancient Hebrew and means 'the one from Magdala' or 'the exalted one.'

How do you pronounce Madelaine?

The pronunciation of Madelaine is elegant: it is pronounced as 'Ma-de-lai-ne' [madəˈlɛːnə] or with a French accent [madlɛn]. This gives the name an appealing structure. The alternation between the open a sounds and the bright e creates a harmonious tension. The accent is placed in the middle of the syllable, which gives the name a deeper tonal quality. Madelaine appears stylish, cultured, and carries an international sound.

When is the name day of Madelaine?

The name day of Madelaine is celebrated on May 25 and July 22.

Popularity

In Germany, Madelaine is a relatively common first name. In 2022, it ranked 3,777th on the list of the most popular female baby names. Its best placement was in 2007, when it ranked 732nd. Over the last ten years, Madelaine has been used as a first name about 50 times, placing it 3,540th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 2,595th.

Nicknames & pet names

Lai / Lainy / Lay / Len / Lene / Leni / Lennie / Lenny / Mad / Maddi / Maddie / Maddy / Madel / Madi / Madl / Mady / Mädlä

Similar first names

Famous people

• Madelaine Edlund (Swedish footballer)
• Madelaine Newton (British actress)
• Madelaine Petsch (actress)
• Princess Madeleine of Sweden (princess)