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Madeleine

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAD-uh-lin /ˈmæd.ə.lɪn/High

Meaning: French form of Magdalene, from the place name Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, meaning 'tower' in Hebrew; made famous by Mary Magdalene of the New TestamentHigh

In 30 seconds: Madeleine is the elegant French form of Magdalene, meaning 'woman from Magdala' or 'tower.' Refined and literary, it carries both religious history and the sweet association of Marcel Proust's famous madeleine cake.
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Origin HighFrench, Hebrew
MeaningFrench form of Magdalene, from the place name Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, meaning 'tower' in Hebrew; made famous by Mary Magdalene of the New Testament
U.S. rank (2025)#455 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births679 girls (0.04% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 45,718

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199818812025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Madeleine is the French form of Magdalene, derived from the Hebrew place name Magdala (tower) on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Mary Magdalene, one of the most significant women in the New Testament, gave the name lasting Christian resonance. The French form Madeleine developed through the Catholic tradition in France and spread throughout Europe.

Madeleine has been used in France since the medieval period and in English-speaking countries from at least the 17th century. It gained additional cultural associations through Proust's novel and through the beloved children's book character Madeleine by Ludwig Bemelmans (1939). The name is considered classic and refined in both French and English contexts.

Did you know? In Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time, the narrator's taste of a madeleine cake triggers a flood of childhood memories — making the madeleine (and by extension the name) a worldwide symbol of involuntary memory and nostalgia in literary culture.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Madeleine — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MadelineMadaleneMagdaleneMagdalena

Nicknames

MaddieMaddiLeineLena

Famous Bearers

  • ★Madeleine Albright (1937–2022)
    First female U.S. Secretary of State (1997–2001)
  • ★Madeleine (fictional character)
    Heroine of Ludwig Bemelmans's classic children's book series Madeline

If you like Madeleine…

Magdalene— the fuller biblical form of the same name
Cecelia— shares the French classic elegance and the same refined feminine quality
Genevieve— another French classic with literary history and multiple syllables
Eloise— shares the French literary association and the charming -oise/-eine ending

Frequently Asked

What does Madeleine mean?

Madeleine means 'woman from Magdala,' a place name meaning 'tower' in Hebrew. It is the French form of Magdalene, made famous by Mary Magdalene.

How do you pronounce Madeleine?

Madeleine is pronounced MAD-uh-lin /ˈmæd.ə.lɪn/ — three syllables with stress on the first.

What is the difference between Madeleine and Madeline?

They are essentially alternate spellings with the same pronunciation. Madeleine is the French form; Madeline is a simplified English variant. Both are widely used.

What is the Proust madeleine connection?

In Marcel Proust's novel In Search of Lost Time, the taste of a madeleine cake triggers waves of memory — making the madeleine a universal literary symbol of nostalgia.