Magda Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAG-duh //ˈmæɡdə//
Origin: Hebrew; Polish
Meaning: Hebrew: elevated; Polish: pearl
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Magda is derived from the Hebrew name Magdalene, which means "of Magdala." Magdala was a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, and the name itself is believed to be rooted in the Hebrew word "migdal," meaning "tower." The name Magdalene gained prominence through its association with Mary Magdalene, a significant figure in the New Testament, who is often depicted as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. The Greek form of the name, "Magdalene," was adopted into Latin as "Magdalena," which then influenced various European languages, including the Old French "Magdeleine," before evolving into the modern form "Magda" in English and other languages.
Throughout history, the name Magda has been linked to various cultural and religious contexts. Mary Magdalene is often regarded as a symbol of redemption and femininity within Christianity, and her story has been interpreted in numerous ways across different eras.
The name has also appeared in various literary works and artistic representations, reinforcing its cultural significance. In the Middle Ages, the name became popular in Christian communities, particularly in reference to the saintly figure of Mary Magdalene, whose feast day is celebrated on July 22.
In addition to its religious connotations, the name Magda has been embraced in various cultures, often seen as a representation of strength and resilience. The diminutive form "Maggie" has also emerged as a common variant, though Magda itself retains a distinct identity.
The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its deep historical roots and the powerful associations with one of Christianity's most notable female figures, ensuring its place in the cultural lexicon across generations.
Famous people named Magda
In this section, you will find notable people named Magda. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Magda who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Magda who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Magda Szubanski is an actress and comedian best known for Kath & Kim, Babe, and The Last Resort.
Magda Gessler is a television personality and chef best known for MasterChef Poland, Kuchenne Rewolucje, and her restaurant ventures.
Fictional characters named Magda
The following list of fictional characters named Magda is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Magda is a fictional character from the film The Devil Wears Prada. She is a senior assistant at the fashion magazine Runway, known for her dedication and support to the protagonist.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Magda, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Magda. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Magda was first seen in the United States in 1888.
Magda has ranked as high as #993 nationally, which occurred in 1966, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and New Jersey.
In the past 5 years the name Magda has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Magda is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Magda was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Magda (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Magda.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2006 | 31 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2002 | 40 |
| 2001 | 46 |
| 2000 | 32 |
| 1999 | 16 |
| 1998 | 34 |
| 1997 | 36 |
| 1996 | 40 |
| 1995 | 35 |
| 1994 | 36 |
| 1993 | 46 |
| 1992 | 61 |
| 1991 | 45 |
| 1990 | 47 |
| 1989 | 48 |
| 1988 | 44 |
| 1987 | 43 |
| 1986 | 40 |
| 1985 | 37 |
| 1984 | 37 |
| 1983 | 43 |
| 1982 | 36 |
| 1981 | 50 |
| 1980 | 44 |
| 1979 | 53 |
| 1978 | 37 |
| 1977 | 37 |
| 1976 | 43 |
| 1975 | 55 |
| 1974 | 55 |
| 1973 | 68 |
| 1972 | 68 |
| 1971 | 53 |
| 1970 | 76 |
| 1969 | 59 |
| 1968 | 54 |
| 1967 | 57 |
| 1966 | 76 |
| 1965 | 57 |
| 1964 | 47 |
| 1963 | 48 |
| 1962 | 53 |
| 1961 | 42 |
| 1960 | 45 |
| 1959 | 57 |
| 1958 | 34 |
| 1957 | 42 |
| 1956 | 31 |
| 1955 | 25 |
| 1954 | 32 |
| 1953 | 32 |
| 1952 | 16 |
| 1951 | 12 |
| 1950 | 9 |
| 1949 | 14 |
| 1948 | 13 |
| 1947 | 14 |
| 1946 | 9 |
| 1945 | 5 |
| 1944 | 9 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1939 | 6 |
| 1938 | 5 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1935 | 9 |
| 1931 | 8 |
| 1930 | 7 |
| 1929 | 6 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1925 | 9 |
| 1920 | 6 |
| 1919 | 6 |
| 1916 | 9 |
| 1915 | 6 |
| 1912 | 11 |
| 1897 | 5 |
| 1896 | 7 |
| 1893 | 5 |
| 1888 | 5 |