Rising since 1985, #70 for girls today.
Popularity of Madelyn since 1890
Babies named Madelyn per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Madelyn's real moment was 2015.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 156 |
| 1900s | 417 |
| 1910s | 1,924 |
| 1920s | 2,869 |
| 1930s | 1,628 |
| 1940s | 2,297 |
| 1950s | 1,959 |
| 1960s | 1,140 |
| 1970s | 870 |
| 1980s | 1,206 |
| 1990s | 8,640 |
| 2000s | 32,620 |
| 2010s | 39,199 |
| 2020s | 21,085 |
Meaning & origin
Madelyn is what happened when American parents decided to spell Madeline the way they say it. On the books since 1890, the spelling stayed in Madeline's shadow for a century, then rode the great -lyn wave upward from 1985 to a peak in 2015. It has held on remarkably well since: a rank of 70th in 2025, or roughly one in every 478 newborn girls, keeps it solidly in the top 100.
The name's strongest states: New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island, give it a distinct northern New England tilt. Its real footprint is bigger than any single rank shows, since Madeline, Madelynn, Madilyn, and Madalyn all remain in circulation and all answer to Maddie. Parents choosing it tend to favor familiar, friendly polish: Olivia and Avery for sisters, Jackson and Carter for brothers.
Madelyn is a phonetic American respelling of Madeline, which reached English through the French Madeleine, from the Latin and Greek Magdalene, the epithet of Mary Magdalene, 'the woman of Magdala.' Magdala was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee whose Aramaic name is usually taken to mean 'tower,' though as with many ancient place names the derivation is not fully certain. Madeline has been used in England since the Middle Ages; the Madelyn spelling shows up in American records by 1890 and became a leading form during the 2000s, when -lyn endings were ascendant. Its long modern climb dates from 1985 and crested in 2015.
Read more: Madelyn on Wikipedia
Where Madelyn is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Madelyn” around the world
Where Madelyn lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
New Zealand
16
babies in 2025
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Maddie, Maddy
Famous people named Madelyn
- Madelyn Cline · American actress known for Outer Banks
Sibling names for Madelyn
Names that share Madelyn's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Olivia, Avery, Kennedy, Lydia, Brooklyn, Jocelyn, Annalyse, Jazlyn, Jocelynn, Joselyn, Kailyn, Kaylyn, Madalyn, Marlee, Raegan, Raylin, Roselyn, Abbigayle, Abbygail, Addalyn, Angelyn, Annalyn, Ashlin, Darlyn, Emilyn, Emmaleigh, Everlyn, Jaedyn, Janelly, Jaquelyn, Jeslyn, Jessalyn, Josalyn, Joslynn, Josselyn, Kaelynn, Karalyn, Karlyn, Katlynn, Kaylan, Makinley, Nataleigh, Roselynn, Rozlyn, Shaelyn, Taylin, Taylynn, Adalin, Alicen, Alicyn, Allysen, Analyn, Annaleah, Audreanna, Edlyn, Ellyse, Emaleigh, Emilyann, Haylei, Jackalyn, Jackelyne, Jamilyn, Jennalyn, Jennavieve, Jesselyn, Jlynn, Jocilyn, Jolin, Joselyne, Joshlynn, Josilyn, Joylyn, Kaely, Kayelynn, Liliann, Lizzeth, Lutricia, Mailyn, Marelyn, Marilin, Matilyn, Maylynn, Mayrin, Michaelyn, Natally, Natalyn, Abbegail, Abbiegail, Allisyn, Amberlin, Anabeth, Caralynn, Charlsey, Dalaina, Elainna, Emmalie, Gwendalynn, Jadalynn, Jakelyn, Janellie, Janelys, Jasalyn, Jaslyne, Jenalyn, Jennalynn, Joelynn, Joscelin, Jozelyn, Justeen, Karelyn, Kashlyn, Leahna, Maegen, Makaylyn, Mandalyn, Mattalyn, Merelyn, Rachyl, Rosselyn, Rozalynn, Andelyn, Jezlyn, Aarilyn, Abbagayle, Adasyn, Addalyne, Aleighna, Aliceson, Annalynne, Anyelin, Ashelyn, Avilyn, Crislyn, Emilynn, Emylie, Graelyn, Jackalynn, Jacklyne, Jaquelinne, Jaslynne, Jenilyn, Jennessy, Joclynn, Johonna, Josalin, Joselynne, Josselyne, Joycelin, Jozelynn, Kaitelyn, Kaselyn, Khailee, Macklyn, Maday, Maidah, Makinze, Matelyn, Mattelyn, Matteson, Mckenzye, Mckinzy, Myalynn, Savanha, Shylin, Zailynn
Brothers: Jackson, Carter, Landon, Wyatt, Grayson, Bently, Lynwood, Benjamyn, Jacksen, Kaidan, Prestyn, Gavynn, Juddson, Koleson, Kollyn, Markcus, Nichalas, Kaelob, Doniven, Dyllin, Jacobey, Jaecob, Jamyson, Jaqualyn, Jarrette, Jaymison, Jonaven
Names like Madelyn
Names whose popularity has moved with Madelyn's over the last 50 years.
