Madeleine
/M-AE-D-EH-L-EY-N-EH/
Of Magdala, the French form of Magdalene, from a Hebrew place name tied to migdal (tower), the town of Mary Magdalene. It carries an image of the watchtower's strength along with deep devotional roots, and lends its name to the small French shell-shaped cake.
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How well does Madeleine fit your family?
This page tells you what Madeleine 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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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Madeleine is a Christian girl name of French origin, meaning “Of Magdala, the French form of Magdalene, from a Hebrew place name tied to migdal (tower), the town of Mary Magdalene. It carries an image of the watchtower's strength along with deep devotional roots, and lends its name to the small French shell-shaped cake.”.
Madeleine is a girl's name of French origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Of Magdala, the French form of Magdalene, from a Hebrew place name tied to migdal (tower), the town of Mary Magdalene. It carries an image of the watchtower's strength along with deep devotional roots, and lends its name to the small French shell-shaped cake." and belongs to the Beauty cluster — names that carry grace, elegance, and aesthetic wonder.
Common among French, European families, Madeleine 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 Madeleine
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. Madeleine lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Madeleine's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Madeleine's saint & feast day →What does Madeleine'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 Madeleine resonates in either tradition.
Madeleine's destiny number is 5 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Madeleine's full reading →
Does Madeleine go with your family's names?
Madeleine breaks into 8 sounds: /M-AE-D-EH-L-EY-N-EH/. 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 Madeleine 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 Madeleine beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Madeleine — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Madeleine
If Madeleine 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 French families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian girl names from the Beauty cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian girl names that open with the same syllables as Madeleine
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Madeleine — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Madeleine
What does the name Madeleine mean?
Madeleine means "Of Magdala, the French form of Magdalene, from a Hebrew place name tied to migdal (tower), the town of Mary Magdalene. It carries an image of the watchtower's strength along with deep devotional roots, and lends its name to the small French shell-shaped cake.." It is a girl name of French origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Madeleine a boy or girl name?
Madeleine is most commonly used as a girl name.
What is the origin of the name Madeleine?
Madeleine is of French origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among French, European families.
Is Madeleine a Christian name?
Yes. Madeleine is a girl name traditionally used in Christian families, of French origin.
What does Madeleine mean in French?
Madeleine originates from French, where it means "Of Magdala, the French form of Magdalene, from a Hebrew place name tied to migdal (tower), the town of Mary Magdalene. It carries an image of the watchtower's strength along with deep devotional roots, and lends its name to the small French shell-shaped cake.."
What are common nicknames for Madeleine?
Common short forms of Madeleine include Made, Madi.
What is the numerology of Madeleine?
Madeleine has a Pythagorean destiny number of 5 — freedom and adventurous change.
See how Madeleine scores for your family
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