A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Magdalena since 1880
Babies named Magdalena per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2007, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Magdalena's real moment was 1882.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 306 |
| 1890s | 364 |
| 1900s | 346 |
| 1910s | 604 |
| 1920s | 967 |
| 1930s | 739 |
| 1940s | 810 |
| 1950s | 1,288 |
| 1960s | 1,572 |
| 1970s | 1,591 |
| 1980s | 1,668 |
| 1990s | 2,457 |
| 2000s | 2,842 |
| 2010s | 2,447 |
| 2020s | 1,772 |
Meaning & origin
Magdalena is a name of biblical origin, derived from the Hebrew place name Magdala, meaning 'tower' or 'magnificent' in Aramaic. In the New Testament, Mary Magdalene is one of the most prominent women, present at key events of the crucifixion and resurrection. The name has been in continuous use in the United States since 1880, when it first entered the records. At its peak in 1882, it ranked 349, making it moderately common in the late 19th century. After a long decline, the name has been on an upward trajectory since 1988; as of 2025, it sits at rank 849 with 1 in 5,023 girls receiving the name. The revival reflects a broader trend of interest in biblical and classic names. In the 1880s, it was most common in Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas, aligning with German and Scandinavian immigrant populations who favored the name. Magdalena has a strong international presence, with variants like Magdalene in English and Magdaléna in Hungarian. Its nickname options, including Maggie, Lena, and Maddie, make it adaptable for modern use.
Magdalena is the Latin and later vernacular form of the Greek Μαγδαληνή (Magdalēnē), meaning 'woman from Magdala,' a town on the Sea of Galilee. The name is borne in the New Testament by Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus who was present at his crucifixion and resurrection. It became widely used across Christian Europe from the medieval period onward, especially in Spanish-, German-, and Slavic-speaking regions, often in honor of the saint. The name has been in continuous use in the United States since at least 1880.
Where Magdalena 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.
“Magdalena” around the world
Where Magdalena lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Maggie, Maddie, Lena, Mags
Sibling names for Magdalena
Names that share Magdalena's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Cecilia, Veronica, Anastasia, Theresa, Genevieve, Janina, Kasia, Krystyna, Anastazia, Dominika, Katarzyna, Klaudia, Agnieszka, Kathrin, Patrycja, Rozalia, Anastazja, Cecylia, Ewa, Ewelina, Illona, Margareta, Sylwia
Brothers: Sebastian, Dominic, Gregory, Nicholas, Matthias, Dominik, Krystian, Marek, Aloys, Christoph, Jacek, Lukasz, Magdaleno, Patryk, Piotr, Stanislaus, Johannes, Maciej, Marcin, Mikolaj, Rafal, Dariusz
Names like Magdalena
Names whose popularity has moved with Magdalena's over the last 50 years.
