Madoline
A feminine name derived from the French word for the musical instrument "mandoline".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Madoline. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Madoline today is around 89 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Madoline births was 1915 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Madoline. 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 Madoline is about 89 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Madolines were born before 1947.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Madoline. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1915
9 babies that year
Average age
89
years old
1944 SSA rank
#4,990
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Madoline: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Madoline from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 28 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Madoline remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Madoline 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 Madoline during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Madoline
The name Madoline has its roots in the Old French and Medieval Latin languages. It is believed to have originated as a feminine form of the name Madalena, which itself is derived from the biblical name Magdalene. Magdalene was a follower of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and her name is thought to come from the Hebrew place name Migdal, meaning "tower" or "fortress."
In the Middle Ages, the name Madoline gained popularity across various regions of Europe, particularly in France and England. It was sometimes spelled as Madeleine or Maudeleyne during this time period. The name's association with the biblical figure of Mary Magdalene likely contributed to its widespread use among Christian communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Madoline can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Maddeline" in this historical document.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Madoline. One prominent example is Madoline Maclin (1723-1798), an American Quaker and abolitionist who played a significant role in the anti-slavery movement in Pennsylvania. Another notable figure is Madoline Tallcot (1847-1924), a British author and playwright who wrote several works of fiction and plays in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the realm of literature, the name Madoline appears in various works, such as the novel "The History of Madoline" by Alain-René Lesage, published in 1733. This French novel follows the adventures of a young woman named Madoline and her romantic escapades.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Madoline is Madoline Cartwright (1892-1976), a British painter and sculptor who was part of the Vorticist movement in the early 20th century. Her abstract works were exhibited alongside those of renowned artists like Wyndham Lewis and David Bomberg.
Lastly, Madoline Wynne (1865-1942) was an American actress and singer who performed in various Broadway productions and vaudeville shows during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was known for her comedic roles and musical talents.
People
Madoline + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Madoline 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
Madoline: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Madoline?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Madoline 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 Madoline a common name?
We classify Madoline 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, 61 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Madoline most popular?
The single biggest year for Madoline was 1915, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Madoline is about 89 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Madoline a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Madoline 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.