What does the name Magdalene mean?

Magdalene is a girl name of Hebrew origin: woman from Magdala.

When was the name Magdalene most popular?

In US Social Security records since 1890, Magdalene peaked in the 1890s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.

What are names similar to Magdalene?

Names similar to Magdalene in origin and style include Madeline, Josephine, Abigail, Isabelle, Gabrielle.

← Magdalenabrowse · build a nametreeMaggie →

Magdalene

girl name

Origin

Hebrew

Syllables

Peak era

1890s/2020s

Today

▬ Steady

Meaning

woman from Magdala

Magdalene around the world

One shared root links 9 names across 3 languages.

Shared root: from Magdala, the village on the Sea of Galilee (Aramaic magdala "tower"), via Mary Magdalene

The constellation

MagdaleneGreekMadelineEnglish MadeleineFrench

More branches

MadelynEnglish · variant MadelynnEnglish · variant MadalynEnglish · variant MadelyneEnglish · variant MadilynEnglish · variant MadelinEnglish · variant

Popularity, 1890–2024

peak 1890s2020s

Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Magdalene peaked in the 1890s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.

See popularity in Brazil

Popularity in Brazil

53 people · the #64,043 first name in Brazil · median age 42

Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022

Names that fit alongside Magdalene

Madeline Josephine Abigail Isabelle Gabrielle Sadie

The Magdalene deep dive

Written for you · $1.99 →

Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Magdalene truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Magdalene fits with your family’s names and surname.

Both reports, explained →

Does Magdalene fit YOUR family?

nametree reads your family’s names and finds the ones that belong. Free, private, no ads.

Add Magdalene to your family’s tree →