Declining since 2009, #5,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Madaline since 1885
Babies named Madaline per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Madaline's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 126 |
| 1900s | 255 |
| 1910s | 701 |
| 1920s | 794 |
| 1930s | 364 |
| 1940s | 330 |
| 1950s | 255 |
| 1960s | 144 |
| 1970s | 101 |
| 1980s | 97 |
| 1990s | 430 |
| 2000s | 765 |
| 2010s | 478 |
| 2020s | 145 |
Meaning & origin
Madaline is a spelling variant of the classic Madeline, distinguished by its 'a' in place of the second 'e'. First recorded in 1885, it peaked in popularity in 1906 before declining over the 20th century. Since 2009, its usage has been falling, and in 2025 it ranked 5,917, with approximately 1 in 80,363 newborn girls receiving the name. Its modest profile places it among less common choices, yet it retains a vintage charm. The name has no strong regional ties in the U.S. but is occasionally chosen for its distinctive spelling compared to more popular forms like Madelyn.
Madaline is a spelling variant of Madeline, itself derived from the French form of Magdalene, meaning 'of Magdala'. Magdala was an ancient town on the Sea of Galilee, whose name in Hebrew likely means 'tower'. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century, often as an elaborated form or a blend of Madeline and Caroline.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Maddie, Maddy, Lina, Dell
Sibling names for Madaline
Names that share Madaline's style, for a brother or sister.
