How to say it
MAD · e · leine
/ˈmæd.ə.lɪn/
Feminine
Madeleine
Of Magdala
What it means
The French form of Magdalene, 'woman of Magdala,' the town by the Sea of Galilee.
Madeleine is the elegant French form of Magdalene, meaning 'of Magdala,' a town on the Sea of Galilee and the home of Mary Magdalene. The little shell-shaped madeleine cake, made famous by Proust, adds a literary sweetness. It is the dressier cousin of Madeline and Madelyn. Maddie is the short. Said MAD-uh-lin.
Popularity over time
peaked at #217 in 1998, currently #455 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Maddie.
- Spelling
The French spelling of Madeline; see also Madelyn.
- Pop culture
Proust's madeleine cake.
Spelling variants
- Madeline
- Madelyn
- Magdalene
Names with the same feeling
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By style