Madonna (name)

Madonna (/məˈdɒnə/) is a name from the 16th century, originally used as a respectful form of address to an Italian woman. It comes from Old Italian phrase ma donna which means "my lady". It was adopted as one of the titles for Mary, mother of Jesus in Roman Catholic tradition in the 17th century. Its usage has been present in Western Christian art and literature.

The name has also become associated in contemporary culture with American singer Madonna (full name: Madonna Louise Ciccone) since late twentieth century. She registered her name for trademark in the United States during the 1980s. Her trademark was also recognized internationally when she won a legal case in 2000 through the United Nations' arbitration at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).