Madeleine

MADE-uh-len or MAD-uh-line

A classic form of Magdalene, ultimately tied to Mary Magdalene and “of Magdala.”

Meaning

Madeleine is the French form of Magdalene, a name connected to Magdala, the place-name associated with Mary Magdalene. In older name books it is glossed simply as “of Magdala,” and it appears alongside related forms like Madelena, Magdalena, and Madelon.

Origin

Fun fact

Older sources note several close cousins of the name across Europe, including Madelon in French and Madelena in Spanish.

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Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland, Girls' Names and Name-Day and Birthday Book.

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