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Name at a glance

Magdalene

Magdalene means connected with Magdala, a place name from the region of Galilee.

Ranked #1345 in the 2025 SSA records, peaked at #432 in 1904, stable over the past 5 years.

Magdalene is associated with Mary Magdalene, one of the most important women in the Gospels and a witness to Jesus' resurrection.

Browse namesRead Magdalene's story
OriginAramaic, Greek
GenderGirl
FeelDevotional
PronunciationMAG-duh-leen

Is Magdalene biblical?

As a variant of a biblical name

Biblical status Biblical form or variant

Magdalene is the 'of Magdala' byname of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels rather than an independent personal name, and it became a standalone given name in later Christian use.

FromMary Magdalene

Is Magdalene a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Magdalene is established across Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions through Saint Mary Magdalene, the first resurrection witness, whose commemoration was raised to a feast in 2016.

Plain answer

Magdalene is not an independent biblical personal name but the 'of Magdala' byname of Mary Magdalene, and it carries deep cross-tradition Christian standing through her role as first resurrection witness.

Confidence Moderate Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Magdalene

Magdalene is not originally a personal meaning like grace or peace. It identifies Mary as connected with Magdala. In Christian naming, the power of the name comes from Mary Magdalene's Gospel role.

Biblical story

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene appears in the Gospels as a follower of Jesus and one of the women present around his death, burial, and resurrection.

In John's Gospel, she is the first to encounter the risen Jesus and announce the resurrection to the disciples. That gives Magdalene strong associations with devotion, grief, recognition, and witness.

Naming use

A rarer route from Mary

Magdalene feels more distinctive than Mary while keeping a close Gospel association. Forms like Magdalena, Madeleine, and Madeline offer different cultural and stylistic paths.

The name is best understood as a Christian witness name rather than a virtue name. Its meaning is place-based, but its story is deeply devotional.

Sound

How to pronounce Magdalene

Phonetic
MAG-duh-leen
IPA
/ˌmæɡdəˈliːn/

3 syllables · stress: MAG-duh-leen · ends in a consonant

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Magdalena
  • Madeleine
  • Madeline
  • Maddalena
  • Madalen
  • Magda

Short forms and nicknames

  • Maggie
  • Lena
  • Maddy

Languages

Magdalene in other languages

Greek
ΜαγδαληνήMagdalēnē
Latin
Magdalena
Spanish
Magdalena
French
Madeleine
German
Magdalena
Italian
Maddalena
Portuguese
Madalena
Polish
Magdalena
Russian
МагдалинаMagdalina

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Magdalene has major Christian significance through Mary Magdalene, who is remembered as a devoted follower of Jesus and a resurrection witness.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Mary Magdalene is a follower of Jesus who witnesses his death and resurrection and announces the risen Christ to the disciples.

Read the full story of Magdalene in the Bible

Bearers

Notable people named Magdalene

  • biblical

    Mary MagdaleneGalilean follower of Jesus, witness to the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, the first to see the risen Christ in John 20

  • historical

    Magdalena Sibylla of SaxonyGerman princess and Electress of Saxony, 1617 to 1668

  • historical

    Magdalena AbakanowiczPolish sculptor known for fiber and bronze figural works, 1930 to 2017

  • modern

    Magdalena AnderssonSwedish economist and prime minister of Sweden in 2021 and 2022, born 1967

Saint

Saint Mary Magdalene

Traditions
Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran
Patron of
penitents, hairdressers, perfumers, converts, contemplative life

Mary Magdalene's commemoration was raised to a feast (the same rank as the apostles' feasts) by Pope Francis in 2016, in recognition of her role as the Apostle to the Apostles, the first witness to the resurrection.

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Magdalene and its forms have been used across Christian Europe. Madeleine and Madeline feel more familiar in English, while Magdalene keeps the biblical connection clearer.

Recent US use

Magdalene in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#1345
Peak rank
#432 in 1904
Recent trend
stable over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Across cultures

Use across cultures

Magdalene as a given name has had a quiet revival in the twenty-first century, especially since Pope Francis raised the Mary Magdalene commemoration to a feast in 2016. The name also continues to be used in Orthodox tradition through the veneration of the Myrrh-bearers, and Lutheran families have re-adopted it in recognition of her resurrection witness role.

A note on association

One association to know about

A long Western tradition conflated Mary Magdalene with the unnamed sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet in Luke 7 and with Mary of Bethany. Pope Gregory I's homily in 591 is the most influential early instance of this conflation. There is no biblical basis for identifying Mary Magdalene as a former prostitute; the Catholic Church formally distinguished the three women in 1969. Families choosing the name today often want to surface her actual Gospel role as the first witness to the resurrection rather than the medieval Western tradition.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

For families

For families looking at Magdalene

For a Christian family, Magdalene offers a distinctive Gospel name with deep devotional resonance. It may suit parents who like Mary but want a less common form.

Common questions

What does Magdalene mean?

Magdalene means connected with Magdala.

Is Magdalene a biblical name?

Yes. It is associated with Mary Magdalene in the Gospels.

Is Magdalene the same as Madeline?

Madeline and Madeleine are related forms, but Magdalene keeps the biblical association most visible.

Sources

Sources for Magdalene

  • The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, Koehler and BaumgartnerSupports: Aramaic place-name etymology (Magdala); meaning 'connected with Magdala'.
  • The Gospel of John, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical figure Mary Magdalene; first witness to the resurrection (John 20:18).
  • The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, David Hugh Farmer (5th edition)Supports: Saint Mary Magdalene; Apostle to the Apostles; feast day (July 22).

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

MaryMary Magdalene's first name is Mary; Magdalene derives from 'of Magdala' (her home fishing village on the Sea of Galilee), evolved into a personal name in later Christian use.MiriamMary's Hebrew name is Miryam; Magdalene as a derivative of the Marian tradition carries the same root meaning forward through history.PhoebeBoth are New Testament women whose names carry strong devotional substance; Magdalene the apostle to the apostles, Phoebe the deacon of Cenchreae.