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Madeline

Girl name · 255 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Madeline: 255 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 21 births in 2005.

Madeline is the English form of Madeleine, which itself comes from the French version of the Greek name Magdalēnē – meaning "woman from Magdala," a village on the Sea of Galilee whose name likely derives from a Hebrew word for "tower." The most famous Madeline is probably the plucky, Parisian boarding-school girl created by American author Ludwig Bemelmans in 1939, whose stories captured hearts for generations. Saint Mary Magdalene, though technically a different spelling, is the biblical figure who shares the same root. The name also echoes in countless streets and churches dedicated to her across Scotland, from St Mary Magdalene's in Dundee to the Magdalene Chapel in Edinburgh. A notable variant is the Scottish spelling Madelina, which was particularly popular in the 19th century.