Magdaline
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "from Magdala".
Name Census estimates that about 568 living Americans carry the first name Magdaline. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Magdaline today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Magdaline births was 1921 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Magdaline. 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
568
~ 1 in 603,441 Americans
Peak year
1921
36 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,522
Tracked since 1904
Popularity
Magdaline: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Magdaline from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 13 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 296 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
Magdaline 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 Magdaline during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Magdalines live
The SSA's state-level files cover 8 states and territories. Pennsylvania, North Dakota, New York recorded the most babies named Magdaline, while Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Magdaline
The name Magdaline is a feminine given name derived from the ancient Aramaic name Magdalena, which itself is a translation of the Hebrew name Migdal, meaning "tower" or "fortress." The name has its origins in the Middle East, particularly in the region of ancient Judea, now part of modern-day Israel and the Palestinian territories.
One of the most famous historical references to the name Magdaline is in connection with Mary Magdalene, a prominent figure in the New Testament of the Bible. Mary Magdalene was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and is often referred to as the "apostle to the apostles" for her role in witnessing the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
The earliest recorded use of the name Magdaline can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where it was a popular name among Christian communities in Europe. During this time, the name was often associated with piety and devotion, as it evoked the image of Mary Magdalene, the devoted disciple of Jesus.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Magdaline. For example, Magdaline of France (1520-1537) was a French princess and the daughter of King Francis I. Another historical figure was Magdaline of Valois (1443-1495), a French noblewoman and the daughter of King Charles VII.
In the literary world, Magdaline Sadler (1608-1672) was an English poet and author during the 17th century. Her works included religious poetry and translations of classical texts.
In the field of science, Magdaline Redfield (1841-1923) was an American botanist and educator, known for her contributions to the study of plant morphology and her work as a professor at Vassar College.
Magdaline Massenet (1836-1910) was a French painter and artist, renowned for her portraits and landscape paintings. She was a member of the Société des Artistes Français and exhibited her works at the prestigious Paris Salon.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Magdaline, a name with deep roots in ancient Middle Eastern cultures and a rich history within the Christian tradition.
People
Magdaline + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Magdaline 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
Magdaline: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Magdaline?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 568 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Magdaline 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 603,441 US residents.
Is Magdaline a common name?
We classify Magdaline as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,374 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Magdaline most popular?
The single biggest year for Magdaline was 1921, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Magdaline is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Magdaline a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Magdaline 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.