Madian first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Madian has been for the last 13 years (from 2007 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Madian

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "oasis" or "place of water".

Popularity of Madian by gender

Based on the last 13 years of data, Madian is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 58% of people named Madian being female.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Madian.

It's also interesting to see that despite Madian being historically a mostly female name, the most recent data from 2019 shows a shift in the trend, with more male babies being named Madian.

Year Male Count Female Count
2019 5 0
2007 0 7

The history of the first name Madian

The name Madian has its origins in the ancient Semitic languages, specifically Hebrew and Arabic. It is believed to have emerged around the 2nd millennium BCE in the Middle East region, where these languages were prevalent.

The name Madian is derived from the Hebrew word "Midyan," which refers to a region in northwestern Arabia inhabited by the Midianites, a group of nomadic tribes mentioned in the Bible. The Midianites played a significant role in the biblical narrative, particularly in their interactions with the prophet Moses.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Madian can be found in the Book of Exodus in the Bible. It refers to Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, who is also known as Reuel the Midianite. Jethro was a priest of Midian and provided guidance to Moses during his time in the desert.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Madian. One example is Madian Boulter (1611-1676), an English scholar and clergyman who served as the rector of Shippenhall in Essex. Another individual was Madian Greenwood (1585-1649), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, there was a Madian Oliver (1627-1698), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for East Looe in Cornwall. Additionally, Madian Massey (1608-1681) was an English gentleman and landowner from Oxfordshire.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Madian Fauveau (1827-1908) was a French painter and engraver known for his landscape and genre scenes. He exhibited his works at the Paris Salon and received various honors and awards during his lifetime.

While the name Madian has its roots in ancient Semitic languages and biblical references, it has been used across different cultures and time periods, albeit with varying levels of popularity. These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried this name throughout history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Madian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Madian, please contact us.

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