Madeleine (given name)

Madeleine, Madeline
Mary Magdalene, the saint responsible for the popularity of the name Madeline, in a painting by Frederick Sandys
Pronunciation/ˈmædəlɪn/ MAD-əl-in, /ˈmædlɪn/ MAD-lin
/ˈmædəlaɪn/ MAD-əl-line

/ˈmædəliːn/ MAD-əl-leen
/ˈmædəleɪn/ MAD-əl-ayn
(rare or archaic)

French: [madlɛn] MAD-len
GenderFemale
Origin
Meaning'from the city of Magdala'
Other names
NicknamesMaddy, Maddie, Madi, Lena, Leni
Related namesMaddalena, Madelyn/Madalyn, Magda, Magdalena, Magdalene
Popularitysee popular names

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 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 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.

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.[1]

Madelyn and Madalyn are alternative spellings. Diminutives include Maddy, Maddie, Madi, and Lena, Leni.

People named Madeleine

People named Madeline

Fictional characters

  • Madeline Fabray, love interest in book series North and South by John Lakes and 1980s television mini series based on the book, played by Lesley-Anne Down
  • Madeline, heroine of the book series of the same name by Ludwig Bemelmans
  • Madeleine, a ragdoll in the British stopmotion children's series Bagpuss
  • Monsieur Madeleine, an alias used by Jean Valjean in the novel Les Misérables
  • Madeline (Celeste), protagonist of the 2018 video game Celeste
  • Madeline, in the 2024 film Tarot
  • Madeline "Mad" Ashton, central character of the 1992 black comedy film Death becomes her
  • Madeline Bassett, a recurring character in the Jeeves stories of P. G. Wodehouse
  • Madeline Bray, the wife of Nicholas Nickleby 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
  • 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
  • Madeleine Gravis, from Charlie Kauffman's film Synecdoche, New York
  • 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
  • Madeline "Mads" Ryback, in the television show The Lying Game
  • Dr. Madeleine Swann, 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
  • Madeline Wayne, title character of Oh Madeline, an American sitcom that lasted one season (1983–84)
  • Madeline Westen, in the television series Burn Notice

Notes

  1. ^ "Madeleine pronunciation". Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
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