Pronunciation | /ˈmædəlɪn/ MAD-əl-in /ˈmædəleɪn/ MAD-əl-ayn French: [madlɛn] |
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Gender | Female |
Origin | |
Meaning | 'from the city of Magdala', 'little girl' |
Other names | |
Nickname(s) | Maddy, Maddie, Lena |
Related names | Maddalena, Madelyn/Madalyn, Magda, Magdalena, Magdalene |
Popularity | see popular names |
Madeleine, Madeline or Mädelein is a feminine given name, of Greek and German origin. The name exists in various spellings and pronunciations and is popular among those living in Europe and English-speakers, as well as followers of Christianity, as Mary Magdalene was a central figure in the New Testament.
Madeleine is a modern rendering, found in English and French, of the Greek epithet: Μαγδαληνή, romanized: Magdalenē, lit. 'from Magdala'. It arose as a name due to its association with the Biblical character and female disciple Mary Magdalene. It has a secondary meaning from German of "little girl" or “young maiden”(Mädelein).[citation needed]
Both variants are currently pronounced the same in English, but Madeline was formerly pronounced /ˈmædəlaɪn/ MAD-əl-eyen; furthermore, they can be pronounced /ˈmædələn/ MAD-əl-ən in non-standard English.[1]
Madelyn and Madalyn are alternative spellings. Diminutives include Maddy, Maddie, Maddi and Leine.