Magda

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAHG-dah /ˈmɑɡ.dɑ/Medium

Meaning: A short form of Magdalena/Magdalene — 'from Magdala', a village on the Sea of Galilee whose name means 'a tower'Low

In 30 seconds: From Magdala; the tower: Magda shortens Magdalena — 'from Magdala'. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'MAHG-dah').

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Origin MediumHebrew, Aramaic

MeaningA short form of Magdalena/Magdalene — 'from Magdala', a village on the Sea of Galilee whose name means 'a tower'

U.S. rank (2025)#9853 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births10 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1966

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,860

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Magda is a short form of Magdalena/Magdalene — 'from Magdala', a village on the Sea of Galilee whose name means 'a tower' (the home of Mary Magdalene). A crisp, classic name across German, Polish, and Scandinavian families (said 'MAHG-dah'; nickname Maggie).

In the U.S. it appears in European families. Rare, from-Magdala-the-tower at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Magdalena means 'from Magdala' (a village whose name means 'a tower') — Magda is its crisp short form, classic across Europe (said 'MAHG-dah').

Overall data confidence 58%

References — Magdalena — place etymology

Variations

MagdalenaMagdaleneMagde

Nicknames

Maggie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Magda…

Magdalena— the fuller form

Magdalene— the fuller form

Greta— a sound-neighbor vintage European girls' name

Jada— shares the -da ending

Malka— a fellow Hebrew choice

Explore names like Magda

By themehebrew aramaic

By meaningSea / Water

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Magda mean?

Magda shortens Magdalena — 'from Magdala', a village whose name means 'a tower'.

How do you pronounce Magda?

It's said MAHG-dah /ˈmɑɡ.dɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Magda a boy or girl name?

Magda is a girl's name.

How popular is Magda?

Magda is a rare name in the U.S.