Madell
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Germanic "mathal" meaning "speech".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Madell. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Madell today is around 91 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Madell births was 1924 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Madell. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Madell is about 91 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Madells were born before 1945.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Madell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1924
12 babies that year
Average age
91
years old
1943 SSA rank
#4,493
Tracked since 1904
Popularity
Madell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Madell from the 1900s through to the 1940s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 73 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Madell 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 Madell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Madells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Madell
The name Madell is a relatively rare and unique name that has its origins in the English language. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "mædel," which means "assembly" or "meeting." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who played a significant role in gatherings or meetings in early English communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Madell can be traced back to the 12th century, where it appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and tax assessments in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. However, the name was not particularly common during this time period.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who bore the name Madell. One such person was Madell of Exeter, a 13th-century English noblewoman who was known for her charitable works and support for the local church. Another notable figure was Madell Wycliffe, a 14th-century English scholar and translator who worked alongside John Wycliffe in producing one of the first English translations of the Bible.
Moving forward in time, the name Madell gained some prominence in the 16th century with Madell Boleyn, a distant relative of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. Madell Boleyn was a courtier in the Tudor court and was known for her wit and intelligence.
In the 18th century, there was Madell Montague, an English author and poet who was part of the famous Bluestocking Circle, a group of influential and educated women in London. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
Finally, in the 19th century, Madell Nightingale was a British nurse and social reformer who made significant contributions to the field of nursing and healthcare. She is best known for her efforts during the Crimean War, where she improved the unsanitary conditions in military hospitals and revolutionized the practice of nursing.
While the name Madell has not been widely popular throughout history, it has a rich and diverse heritage, with individuals bearing this name making notable contributions in various fields, from literature and academia to healthcare and social reform.
People
Madell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Madell 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
Madell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Madell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Madell 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Madell a common name?
We classify Madell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 147 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Madell most popular?
The single biggest year for Madell was 1924, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Madell is about 91 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Madell a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Madell 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.