Madalena
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "woman from Magdala".
Name Census estimates that about 694 living Americans carry the first name Madalena. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Madalena today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Madalena births was 2010 (28 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Madalena. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
694
~ 1 in 493,882 Americans
Peak year
2010
28 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,425
Tracked since 1911
Popularity
Madalena: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Madalena from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 194 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Madalena remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Madalena by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Madalena during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Madalenas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Florida, New York recorded the most babies named Madalena, while Texas, New York, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Madalena
Madalena is a feminine given name with origins traced back to the Late Latin name Magdalena, which was derived from the Greek name Μαγδαληνή (Magdalēnē). The name is closely associated with Mary Magdalene, a prominent figure in the New Testament and one of the earliest followers of Jesus Christ.
The name Magdalena is believed to have originated from the ancient town of Magdala, located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in modern-day Israel. The town's name may have derived from the Hebrew word "migdal," meaning tower or fortress, or from the Aramaic word "magdlatha," meaning tower. This association with Magdala led to the name being interpreted as "the Magdalene" or "of Magdala."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Madalena can be found in the Bible, where Mary Magdalene is mentioned several times as a devoted disciple of Jesus. She is often referred to as a witness to the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and is considered an important figure in early Christianity.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Madalena. One of the earliest is Madalena of Hamal (c. 1190 – c. 1257), a Flemish mystic and Beguine who was known for her religious writings and teachings. Another notable figure is Madalena de Coimbra (1532 – 1633), a Portuguese noblewoman and religious figure who founded the Convent of the Descalzas Reales in Madrid, Spain.
In the field of literature, Madalena Casulana (c. 1544 – 1590) was an Italian lutenist and composer who published one of the earliest known collections of secular music written by a woman. Madalena Rigaud (1786 – 1858) was a French painter and portraitist who is known for her works depicting historical and mythological subjects.
More recently, Madalena Iglesias (1930 – 2008) was a Portuguese writer and author known for her works exploring themes of exile, displacement, and the experiences of women. She was awarded the prestigious Camões Prize for her literary contributions.
While the name Madalena has roots in ancient times, it has remained a popular choice throughout various cultures and regions, especially in parts of Europe and Latin America. The name's enduring presence reflects its historical and cultural significance, as well as its association with the influential figure of Mary Magdalene.
People
Madalena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Madalena as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Madalena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Madalena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 694 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Madalena going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 493,882 US residents.
Is Madalena a common name?
We classify Madalena as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 810 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Madalena most popular?
The single biggest year for Madalena was 2010, when 28 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Madalena is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Madalena a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Madalena in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.