Madeleine or Madeline has biblical origins. The name Magdalena is derived from the Aramaic term "Magdala" (מגדלא), meaning "tower" or "elevated, great." It refers to the town of

Magdala Magdala (; ; ) was an ancient Jews, Jewish city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, north of Tiberias. In the Babylonian Talmud it is known as Magdala Nunayya (), and which some historical geographers think may refer to Tarichaea (). It is belie ...

on the Sea of Galilee, traditionally identified as the hometown of Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala), a prominent figure in the New Testament who was a follower of Jesus. The name also stems from the German word Mädelein (derived from

Old High German Old High German (OHG; ) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally identified as the period from around 500/750 to 1050. Rather than representing a single supra-regional form of German, Old High German encompasses the numerous ...

magad + diminutive -lein) meaning “girl” or “young maiden”. Thus, Madeleine can be interpreted both as “woman from Magdala” and as a term of affection for a girl. The name was adopted from Aramaic into Greek as Μαγδαληνή (Magdalēnē) and later into Latin as Magdalena. In Latin, it became more commonly used as a personal name, largely due to the association with Mary Magdalene, a revered saint in Christian tradition. As Christianity spread across Europe, the name evolved into various forms in different languages. In Spanish, Polish, German, and other European cultures, Magdalena became a popular name, often linked with purity and devotion because of its connection to the saint. Madeline and Madeleine are modern English and French versions of the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

name Μαγδαληνή (Magdalenē), meaning “from Magdala,” and the German word Mädelein, meaning “girl.” The name Madeleine is typically pronounced mah-DLEHN in French. In English it has several pronunciations: MAHD-uh-lihn or MAHD-uh-lein are the most common, with MAHD-uh-leen and MAHD-uh-lain (a much older version influenced by the French) heard occasionally. Pronunciations can vary based on region and preference. Madelyn and Madalyn are alternative spellings. Diminutives include Maddy, Maddie, Madi, and Lena, Leni.

People named Madeleine

* Madeleine of Valois (1520–1537), French princess who was briefly Queen consort of Scotland through her marriage to James V of Scotland *

Madeleine Albright Madeleine Jana Korbel Albright (born Marie Jana Körbelová, later Korbelová; May 15, 1937 – March 23, 2022) was an American diplomat and political science, political scientist who served as the 64th United States Secretary of State, United S ...

(1937–2022), American politician and the first woman United States Secretary of State * Madeleine Astor (1893–1940), American socialite, second wife and widow of millionaire John Jacob Astor IV and a survivor of the RMS ''Titanic'' disaster *

Madeleine Sophie Barat Madeleine Sophie Barat, RSCJ, (12 December 1779 – 25 May 1865), is a French saint of the Catholic Church who founded the Society of the Sacred Heart, a worldwide religious institute of educators. Early life and family Barat was born on the nig ...

(1779–1865), French Catholic saint and founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart * Madeleine Béjart (1618–1672), French actor and theatre director * Madeleine Brès (1842–1921), first French woman to obtain a medical degree * Madeleine Boll (born 1953), Swiss footballer * Madeleine Boullogne (1646–1710), French Baroque still life painter *

Madeleine Carroll Marie-Madeleine Bernadette O'Carroll (26 February 1906 – 2 October 1987) was an English actress, popular both in Britain and in America in the 1930s and 1940s. At the peak of her success in 1938, she was the world's highest-paid actress. Ca ...

(1906–1987), English actress * Madeleine Chenette, Canadian politician * Madeleine Damerment (1917–1944), French Resistance member * Madeleine Dassault (1901–1992), French industrialist * Madeleine Dean (born 1959), American politician * Madeleine Herman de Blic, Belgian-born Indian social worker and humanist * Madeleine de Roybon d'Allonne (1646–1718), early settler of New France * Madeleine Eastoe, Australian ballet dancer * Madeleine Eggendorffer, Swiss bookseller, publisher and businesswoman * Madeleine Juneau (1945–2020), Canadian museologist, teacher, nun * Madeleine Kunin (born 1933), American politician and first woman governor of Vermont * Madeleine Lartessuti (1478–1543), French shipper and banker *

Madeleine L'Engle Madeleine L'Engle (; November 29, 1918 – September 6, 2007) was an American writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including ''A Wrinkle in Time'' and its sequels: '' A Wind in the Door'', '' A Swiftly Tilting Planet'' ...

(1918–2007), American writer; author of the ''Wrinkle in Time'' series *Madeleine Lipszyc (known as Magdalith, 1932–2013), French painter, singer, composer, author and liturgist * Madeleine Martin (born 1993), American actress * Madeleine Mantock (born 1990), British actress *

Madeleine McCann Madeleine Beth McCann (born 12 May 2003) is a British missing person, who at the age of 3 disappeared from her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Portugal, Lagos, Portugal, on the evening of 3 May 2007. ''The Daily Telegraph'' ...

(born 2003), British girl who disappeared while on vacation in Portugal in May 2007 * Madeleine Mitchell, British violinist *

Madeleine Peyroux Madeleine Peyroux (born April 19, 1974) is an American jazz singer and songwriter who began her career as a teenager on the streets of Paris. She sang vintage jazz and blues songs before finding mainstream success in 2004 when her album ''Carele ...

(born 1973), American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist * Madeleine de Puisieux (1720–1798), French philosopher and feminist writer * Madeleine Rolland (1872–1960), French translator and peace activist *

Madeleine Smith Madeleine Hamilton Smith (29 March 1835 – 12 April 1928) was a 19th-century Glasgow socialite who was the accused in a sensational murder trial in Scotland in 1857. Background Smith was the first child (of five) of an upper-middle-class ...

(1835–1928), Scottish socialite tried for murder * Madeleine Stowe (born 1958), American actress * Madeleine Vionnet (1876–1975), French fashion designer who was the first to cut dresses on the bias * Madeleine Worrall (born 1977), Scottish actress *

Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland (Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine; born 10 June 1982) is the second daughter and youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Upon her birth, she was third ...

(born 1982), seventh in line to the Swedish throne

People named Madeline

* Madeline Argy (born 2000), English influencer * Madeline Bell (born 1942), American soul singer * Madeline McDowell Breckinridge (1872–1920), American women's suffragette leader and reformer * Madeline Brewer (born 1992), American actress * Madeline Carroll (born 1996), American actress * Madeline Duggan (born 1994), English actress * Madeline Early (1912–2001), American mathematician and university professor *

Madeline Fairbanks Madeline (Madeleine) (November 15, 1900 – January 15, 1989) and her twin sister Marion Fairbanks (November 15, 1900 – September 20, 1973) were American stage and motion picture actresses active in the silent era. Early life Born in New Yor ...

(1900–1989), American actress * Madeline Ivalu, Canadian filmmaker and actress * Madeline Juno (born 1995), German singer-songwriter *

Madeline Kahn Madeline Gail Kahn (''née'' Wolfson; September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was an American actress, comedian, and singer. She was known for her comedic roles in films directed by Peter Bogdanovich and Mel Brooks, including '' What's Up, Doc ...

(1942–1999), American actress, comedian and singer * Madeline Kripke (1943–2020), American book collector * Madeline Lewellin (1854–1944), Australian artist * Madeline Manning (born 1948), American track and field runner * Madeline Mitchell (born 1989), American beauty pageant contestant *

Madeline Perry Madeline Perry (born 11 February 1977 in Banbridge, Northern Ireland) is a former professional squash player from Northern Ireland. She was raised in Northern Ireland and lives in Philadelphia. In November 2006 at the World Open in Belfast ...

(born 1977), professional squash player from Northern Ireland * Madeline Sharafian (born 1993), American-Armenian film director, screenwriter, and storyboard artist * Madeline Smith (born 1949), English actress and comedian * Madeline Stratton Morris (1906–2007), American educator *

Madeline Zima Madeline Rose Zima (born September 16, 1985) is an American actress. She portrayed Grace Sheffield on the CBS sitcom ''The Nanny'' (1993–1999), Mia Lewis on the Showtime comedy drama series '' Californication'' (2007–2011), and Gretchen B ...

(born 1985), American actress

Fictional characters

Madeline ''Madeline'' is a media franchise that originated as a series of children's books written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans. The books have been adapted into numerous formats, spawning telefilms, television series and a live action feature fi ...

, heroine of the book series of the same name by Ludwig Bemelmans *Monsieur Madeleine, an alias used by

Jean Valjean Jean Valjean () is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. The story depicts the character's struggle to lead a normal life and redeem himself after serving a 19-year-long prison sentence for stealing bread to feed his ...

in the novel ''Les Misérables'' * Madeline (''Celeste''), protagonist of the 2018 video game ''Celeste'' *Madeline, in the 2024 film ''

Tarot Tarot (, first known as ''trionfi (cards), trionfi'' and later as ''tarocchi'' or ''tarocks'') is a set of playing cards used in tarot games and in fortune-telling or divination. From at least the mid-15th century, the tarot was used to play t ...

'' *Madeline "Mad" Ashton, central character of the 1992 black comedy film ''

Death becomes her ''Death Becomes Her'' is a 1992 American satirical surrealistic black comedy fantasy film directed and produced by Robert Zemeckis and written by David Koepp and Martin Donovan. The film stars Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, a ...

'' * Madeline Bassett, a recurring character in the Jeeves stories of P. G. Wodehouse *Madeline Bray, the wife of

Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'', or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'', is the third novel by English author Charles Dickens, originally published as a serial from 1838 to 1839. The character of Nickleby is a young man who must support his ...

in the novel of that name by Charles Dickens *Madeleine Cahill, in '' The 39 Clues'' novel series *Madeleine Elster, the mysterious central character in the Alfred Hitchcock film ''Vertigo'' *Madeline "Maddie" Fenton, the mother of the titular character of the American animated series ''

Danny Phantom ''Danny Phantom'' is an American animated paranormal superhero action adventure television series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon. It premiered on April 3, 2004, immediately after the 2004 Kids' Choice Awards, and concluded on August ...

'' * Maddy Ferguson, in the television series ''Twin Peaks'' * Maddie Fitzpatrick (Madeline), in Disney's TV series ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'' *Madeleine Gotto, from the Canadian children's animated television series ''

Mona the Vampire ''Mona the Vampire'' is an animated children's television series based on the children's book of the same name written and illustrated by Sonia Holleyman (itself adapted to the novel series, itself illustrated by Holleyman and written by Hia ...

'' *Madeleine Gravis, from Charlie Kauffman's film ''

Synecdoche, New York ''Synecdoche, New York'' ( ) is a 2008 American postmodern psychological drama film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman in his directorial debut. The film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as Caden Cotard, a theater director whose attempt to ...

'' *Madeleine Hanna, the heroine of Jeffrey Eugenides' 2011 book '' The Marriage Plot'' *Madeline Hatter, daughter of the Mad Hatter in the Mattel doll franchise Ever After High *Maddy (Madeleine) Perez, in the television series ''

Euphoria Euphoria ( ) is the experience (or affect) of pleasure or excitement and intense feelings of well-being and happiness. Certain natural rewards and social activities, such as aerobic exercise, laughter, listening to or making music and da ...

'' *Madeline "Mads" Ryback, in the television show '' The Lying Game'' *Dr.

Madeleine Swann Madeleine Swann is a Bond girl, character in the James Bond films ''Spectre (2015 film), Spectre'' (2015) and ''No Time to Die'' (2021), played by actress Léa Seydoux. She is one of only two Bond girls to appear in two films and first in the film ...

, love interest in the 2015 James Bond film ''Spectre'' *Madeline Usher, the twin sister of Roderick Usher in the short story " The Fall of the House of Usher" by

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely re ...

*Madeline Wayne, title character of '' Oh Madeline'', an American sitcom that lasted one season (1983–84) *

Madeline Westen This is a list of fictional characters in the television series '' Burn Notice''. The article deals with the series' main and recurring characters. Main characters Michael Westen Michael Westen played by Jeffrey Donovan is a burned spy w ...

, in the television series ''Burn Notice''

Notes

{{given name English feminine given names English-language feminine given names Feminine given names French feminine given names