Madeleine means from Magdala — the French spelling of Magdalene, carrying Mary Magdalene's devotion through the most elegant orthography in French pastry. Marcel Proust's madeleine cookie launched the most famous passage in all of literature — involuntary memory triggered by a shell-shaped cake dipped in tea. Madeleine Albright was the first female Secretary of State. Four syllables of French baking, Proustian memory, and glass-ceiling shattering.
Madeleine is the French form of Magdalene meaning from Magdala. Marcel Proust's madeleine cookie scene in In Search of Lost Time (1913) is the most famous passage in literary history — involuntary memory triggered by taste. Madeleine Albright (1937–2022) was the first female US Secretary of State.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: French form; Proust's In Search of Lost Time (1913); Madeleine Albright (1937–2022).
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Today
Madeleine remains a beloved choice, ranking #381 in the US. 45,054 babies have been named Madeleine since 1881.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Madeleine?
1998peak year
Today, Madeleine ranks around #381 in the United States, with roughly 839 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 1998, 1,424 babies were given the name (ranked #217 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 2000s. Madeleine's usage has held roughly steady recently. In all, around 45,054 babies have been registered as Madeleine since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Madeleine's Life Path 7 is the seeker's number — seeking through memory. People named Madeleine tend to be elegant, memory-triggering, and gifted at unlocking the past through the senses.
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