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The first name Magdalena

A girl’s name from Spanish.

Pronounced /mæɡdəˈlɛnə/ 4 syllables Female

Meaning and origin

Spanish origin

Borrowed from Spanish Magdalena. Doublet of Magdalene and Madeline.

A form of Magdalene.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 23 girls were named Magdalena, making it the 1,362nd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 57 births (#712).

03060 1996200020052010201520202025
774
babies named Magdalena, 1996–2025
#1,362
rank in 2025
2012
peak year

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

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Magdalena at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 320 girls born in the United States were named Magdalena, the 850th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2007, when 325 were.

0200400 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
19,783
babies named Magdalena since 1880
#850
rank in 2025
2007
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.

Famous people named Magdalena

38 on Wikidata, most written-about first

  • Magdalena Neuner
    Former German biathlete, born 1987
  • Magdalena Kožená
    Czech mezzo-soprano, born 1973
  • Magdalena Maleeva
    Bulgarian tennis player, born 1975
  • Magdalena Aicega
    Argentine field hockey player, born 1973
  • Magdalena Lobnig
    Austrian rower, born 1990
  • Magdalena Georgieva
    Bulgarian rower, born 1962
  • Magdalena Matschina
    German luger, born 2005
  • Magdalena Ruiz Guiñazú
    Argentinian journalist and writer, 1935–2022
  • Magdalena Zeger
    Calendar maker, astronomer, astrologer, 1491–1568
  • Magdalena Wunderlich
    German canoeist, born 1952
  • Magdalena Schmidt
    East German artistic gymnast, born 1949
  • Magdalena Skipper
    British geneticist and Editor-in-Chief of Nature, born 1969

More Spanish girls’ names

Questions

What does the name Magdalena mean?
Borrowed from Spanish Magdalena. Doublet of Magdalene and Madeline.
What is the origin of the name Magdalena?
Borrowed from Spanish Magdalena. Doublet of Magdalene and Madeline.
How popular is the name Magdalena?
In 2025, 23 girls born in England and Wales were named Magdalena, ranking 1,362nd. Its peak was 2012, with 57 births.
Is Magdalena a boy's or a girl's name?
Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 19,783 US babies named Magdalena since 1880 were girls.
When was Magdalena most popular?
2007 in the United States, when 325 babies were named Magdalena, its highest rank at 864th.
How do you pronounce Magdalena?
Magdalena is /mæɡdəˈlɛnə/, 4 syllables.
What name is Magdalena a form of?
Magdalena is a form of Magdalene.