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The first name Madeleine

A girl’s name from French.

Pronounced /ˈmæd(ə)lɪn/ 3 syllables Female

Meaning and origin

French origin

From French Madeleine. Doublet of Magdalene.

A form of Madeline.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 179 girls were named Madeleine, making it the 259th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2005, with 888 births (#64).

0450900 1996200020052010201520202025
13,024
babies named Madeleine, 1996–2025
#259
rank in 2025
2005
peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Madeleine with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Madeleine at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 679 girls born in the United States were named Madeleine, the 455th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1998, when 1,424 were.

01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
45,737
babies named Madeleine since 1880
#455
rank in 2025
1998
peak year

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Nicknames and spellings

Nicknames for Madeleine

Famous people named Madeleine

86 on Wikidata, most written-about first

  • Madeleine de Scudéry
    French writer (1607–1701)
  • Madeleine Stowe
    American actress (born 1958)
  • Madeleine L'Engle
    American writer (1918–2007)
  • Madeleine Carroll
    English actress (1906–1987)
  • Madeleine Astor
    American socialite and Titanic survivor (1893-1940)
  • Madeleine LeBeau
    French actress (1923-2016)
  • Madeleine Vionnet
    French fashion designer (1876–1975)
  • Madeleine Pelletier
    French physician, psychiatrist, feminist, socialist, editor (1874-1939)
  • Madeleine Renaud
    French actress, 1900–1994
  • Madeleine de Souvré, marquise de Sablé
    French writer, 1599–1678
  • Madeleine Peyroux
    American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist, born 1973
  • Madeleine Malonga
    French judoka, born 1993

More French girls’ names

Questions

What does the name Madeleine mean?
From French Madeleine. Doublet of Magdalene.
What is the origin of the name Madeleine?
From French Madeleine. Doublet of Magdalene.
How popular is the name Madeleine?
In 2025, 179 girls born in England and Wales were named Madeleine, ranking 259th. Its peak was 2005, with 888 births.
What are nicknames for Madeleine?
Common nicknames for Madeleine include Maddy, Madi, Maddie.
Is Madeleine a boy's or a girl's name?
Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 45,737 US babies named Madeleine since 1880 were girls.
When was Madeleine most popular?
1998 in the United States, when 1,424 babies were named Madeleine, its highest rank at 217th.
How do you pronounce Madeleine?
Madeleine is /ˈmæd(ə)lɪn/, 3 syllables.
What name is Madeleine a form of?
Madeleine is a form of Madeline.