Madalena
/M-AA-D-AA-L-EH-N-AA/
Of Magdala (Portuguese form) — Madalena (Portuguese, from Greek Magdalēnē 'woman of Magdala') is the Portuguese form of Magdalene/Magdalena. Honors Mary Magdalene, the New Testament disciple. The Madalena form is iconically Portuguese-Brazilian — the Portuguese single-l spelling distinguishes from Spanish/Italian double-l (Magdalena/Maddalena).
Get Madalena's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Madalena:
How well does Madalena fit your family?
This page tells you what Madalena means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Meaning & origin
Yes — Madalena is a Christian girl name of Portuguese origin, meaning “Of Magdala (Portuguese form) — Madalena (Portuguese, from Greek Magdalēnē 'woman of Magdala') is the Portuguese form of Magdalene/Magdalena. Honors Mary Magdalene, the New Testament disciple. The Madalena form is iconically Portuguese-Brazilian — the Portuguese single-l spelling distinguishes from Spanish/Italian double-l (Magdalena/Maddalena).”.
Madalena is a girl's name of Portuguese origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Of Magdala (Portuguese form) — Madalena (Portuguese, from Greek Magdalēnē 'woman of Magdala') is the Portuguese form of Magdalene/Magdalena. Honors Mary Magdalene, the New Testament disciple. The Madalena form is iconically Portuguese-Brazilian — the Portuguese single-l spelling distinguishes from Spanish/Italian double-l (Magdalena/Maddalena)." and belongs to the Divine cluster — names rooted in sacred meaning and spiritual tradition.
Common among Portuguese, Brazilian, Angolan, Mozambican, CapeVerdean, Vietnamese families, Madalena carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Madalena
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Madalena lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Madalena's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Madalena's saint & feast day →What does Madalena's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Madalena resonates in either tradition.
Madalena's destiny number is 6 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Madalena's full reading →
Does Madalena go with your family's names?
Madalena breaks into 8 sounds: /M-AA-D-AA-L-EH-N-AA/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Madalena sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Madalena beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Madalena — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Madalena
If Madalena resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian girl names, common in Portuguese families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian girl names from the Divine cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian girl names that open with the same syllables as Madalena
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Madalena — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Madalena
What does the name Madalena mean?
Madalena means "Of Magdala (Portuguese form) — Madalena (Portuguese, from Greek Magdalēnē 'woman of Magdala') is the Portuguese form of Magdalene/Magdalena. Honors Mary Magdalene, the New Testament disciple. The Madalena form is iconically Portuguese-Brazilian — the Portuguese single-l spelling distinguishes from Spanish/Italian double-l (Magdalena/Maddalena).." It is a girl name of Portuguese origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Madalena a boy or girl name?
Madalena is most commonly used as a girl name.
What is the origin of the name Madalena?
Madalena is of Portuguese origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among Portuguese, Brazilian, Angolan families.
Is Madalena a Christian name?
Yes. Madalena is a girl name traditionally used in Christian families, of Portuguese origin.
What does Madalena mean in Portuguese?
Madalena originates from Portuguese, where it means "Of Magdala (Portuguese form) — Madalena (Portuguese, from Greek Magdalēnē 'woman of Magdala') is the Portuguese form of Magdalene/Magdalena. Honors Mary Magdalene, the New Testament disciple. The Madalena form is iconically Portuguese-Brazilian — the Portuguese single-l spelling distinguishes from Spanish/Italian double-l (Magdalena/Maddalena).."
What are common nicknames for Madalena?
Common short forms of Madalena include Lena.
What is the numerology of Madalena?
Madalena has a Pythagorean destiny number of 6 — nurturing and family devotion.
See how Madalena scores for your family
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