Magdalene Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAG-duh-leen //ˈmæɡ.də.lɪn//
Origin: Hebrew; Greek
Meaning: Hebrew: of Magdala; Greek: tower
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Magdalene derives from the Hebrew name "Migdāl," meaning "tower," which is associated with Mary Magdalene, a prominent figure in the New Testament. The name transitioned through various languages, first appearing in Greek as "Magdalēnē" and later in Latin as "Magdalena." The English form "Magdalene" emerged in the Middle Ages, influenced by the Latin and Greek versions, and became widely recognized due to its biblical connections.
Mary Magdalene is often depicted as a follower of Jesus Christ, present at significant events such as the crucifixion and resurrection. Her portrayal in the Gospels, particularly in the Gospel of John, where she is described as the first to witness the resurrected Christ, solidified her importance in Christian tradition.
The name gained further prominence through the Vulgate, the late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible, which helped standardize the name in Christian texts and liturgy. Throughout history, the name Magdalene has been associated with themes of redemption and devotion, reflecting the character of Mary Magdalene herself.
In medieval Europe, she became a symbol of penitence and was often invoked in prayers and artistic representations. The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as "Maggie," which, while not directly historical, reflects the affectionate adaptations of the name over time.
The enduring legacy of Magdalene in literature, art, and religious practice underscores its cultural resonance, making it a significant name within the Christian tradition.
Famous people named Magdalene
In this section, you will find notable people named Magdalene. 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 Magdalene who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Magdalene 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.
Magdalene Odundo is a ceramic artist best known for her large-scale vessels and unique glazing techniques.
Magdalene Stowe is a British actress best known for her roles in The Last of the Mohicans, The Edge, and The Christmas Chronicles.
Fictional characters named Magdalene
The following list of fictional characters named Magdalene 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.
Magdalene is a fictional character from the video game series The Binding of Isaac. She is a playable character known for her unique abilities and backstory related to themes of redemption and sacrifice.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Magdalene, 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 Magdalene. 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 Magdalene was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Magdalene has ranked as high as #714 nationally, which occurred in 1923, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Magdalene has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Magdalene 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 Magdalene was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Magdalene (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 12 | |
| IN | 12 | |
| TX | 10 | |
| MN | 8 | |
| TN | 8 | |
| PA | 7 | |
| GA | 7 | |
| WI | 6 | |
| NE | 6 | |
| CO | 6 | |
| MO | 5 | |
| NC | 5 | |
| 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 Magdalene.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 157 |
| 2023 | 140 |
| 2022 | 121 |
| 2021 | 90 |
| 2020 | 112 |
| 2019 | 89 |
| 2018 | 122 |
| 2017 | 109 |
| 2016 | 140 |
| 2015 | 116 |
| 2014 | 134 |
| 2013 | 126 |
| 2012 | 99 |
| 2011 | 107 |
| 2010 | 110 |
| 2009 | 106 |
| 2008 | 102 |
| 2007 | 96 |
| 2006 | 113 |
| 2005 | 115 |
| 2004 | 89 |
| 2003 | 92 |
| 2002 | 67 |
| 2001 | 82 |
| 2000 | 89 |
| 1999 | 78 |
| 1998 | 54 |
| 1997 | 64 |
| 1996 | 77 |
| 1995 | 45 |
| 1994 | 58 |
| 1993 | 51 |
| 1992 | 30 |
| 1991 | 34 |
| 1990 | 39 |
| 1989 | 38 |
| 1988 | 35 |
| 1987 | 32 |
| 1986 | 47 |
| 1985 | 39 |
| 1984 | 33 |
| 1983 | 33 |
| 1982 | 33 |
| 1981 | 23 |
| 1980 | 26 |
| 1979 | 30 |
| 1978 | 20 |
| 1977 | 25 |
| 1976 | 25 |
| 1975 | 28 |
| 1974 | 15 |
| 1973 | 18 |
| 1972 | 19 |
| 1971 | 21 |
| 1970 | 19 |
| 1969 | 30 |
| 1968 | 23 |
| 1967 | 26 |
| 1966 | 21 |
| 1965 | 25 |
| 1964 | 30 |
| 1963 | 31 |
| 1962 | 28 |
| 1961 | 30 |
| 1960 | 29 |
| 1959 | 34 |
| 1958 | 41 |
| 1957 | 33 |
| 1956 | 44 |
| 1955 | 44 |
| 1954 | 43 |
| 1953 | 57 |
| 1952 | 50 |
| 1951 | 53 |
| 1950 | 58 |
| 1949 | 48 |
| 1948 | 53 |
| 1947 | 51 |
| 1946 | 53 |
| 1945 | 47 |
| 1944 | 77 |
| 1943 | 68 |
| 1942 | 75 |
| 1941 | 70 |
| 1940 | 77 |
| 1939 | 62 |
| 1938 | 81 |
| 1937 | 69 |
| 1936 | 90 |
| 1935 | 103 |
| 1934 | 107 |
| 1933 | 116 |
| 1932 | 113 |
| 1931 | 123 |
| 1930 | 146 |
| 1929 | 111 |
| 1928 | 154 |
| 1927 | 127 |
| 1926 | 137 |
| 1925 | 141 |
| 1924 | 172 |
| 1923 | 199 |
| 1922 | 161 |
| 1921 | 174 |
| 1920 | 182 |
| 1919 | 178 |
| 1918 | 185 |
| 1917 | 183 |
| 1916 | 156 |
| 1915 | 151 |
| 1914 | 130 |
| 1913 | 74 |
| 1912 | 87 |
| 1911 | 71 |
| 1910 | 54 |
| 1909 | 63 |
| 1908 | 37 |
| 1907 | 47 |
| 1906 | 35 |
| 1905 | 35 |
| 1904 | 56 |
| 1903 | 33 |
| 1902 | 36 |
| 1901 | 28 |
| 1900 | 32 |
| 1899 | 26 |
| 1898 | 22 |
| 1897 | 27 |
| 1896 | 29 |
| 1895 | 29 |
| 1894 | 29 |
| 1893 | 34 |
| 1892 | 36 |
| 1891 | 33 |
| 1890 | 17 |
| 1889 | 16 |
| 1888 | 19 |
| 1887 | 16 |
| 1886 | 17 |
| 1885 | 20 |
| 1884 | 9 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1882 | 12 |
| 1881 | 14 |
| 1880 | 13 |