Madeleine
Girl name · #454 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Madeleine? In official American birth records, Madeleine has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 679 baby girls were named Madeleine, placing it at #454 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #303, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,651 girls born in 2025 was named Madeleine.
The 144-year story
Madeleine first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 1,424 girls were named Madeleine — good for #217 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Madeleine per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Madeleine against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Madeleine in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Madeleine is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Madeleine is most common
Geography matters for names, and Madeleine is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Madeleine is most common in CT (1.2 per 1,000), MA (1 per 1,000), CO (0.8 per 1,000), UT (0.7 per 1,000), WA (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Madeleine is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Madeleine
Madeleine belongs to the Madeline family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
Counted as one name, the Madeline family went to about 4,047 girls in 2025 — together they'd rank around #54, versus #454 for Madeleine alone.
Names like Madeleine
Statistically, parents drawn to Madeleine tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mckenzie, Yasmine, Jazmine, Mackenzie, and Mckenna.
MckenzieYasmineJazmineMackenzieMckennaJasmineGabrielleMakenzie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Madeleine | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 679 | #454 |
| 2024 | 707 | #440 |
| 2023 | 689 | #444 |
| 2022 | 820 | #383 |
| 2021 | 819 | #382 |
| 2020 | 784 | #397 |
| 2019 | 864 | #369 |
| 2018 | 832 | #377 |
| 2017 | 848 | #367 |
| 2016 | 956 | #350 |
| 2015 | 1,067 | #303 |
| 2014 | 1,149 | #283 |
| 2013 | 1,144 | #277 |
| 2012 | 1,091 | #291 |
| 2011 | 980 | #322 |
| 2010 | 993 | #321 |
| 2009 | 1,000 | #329 |
| 2008 | 1,252 | #272 |
| 2007 | 1,163 | #292 |
| 2006 | 980 | #337 |
| 2005 | 969 | #330 |
| 2004 | 960 | #332 |
| 2003 | 963 | #324 |
| 2002 | 1,069 | #292 |
| 2001 | 1,118 | #281 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Madeleine?
In official American birth records, the name Madeleine first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Madeleine a popular girl name?
Madeleine ranked #454 among girls in 2025 with 679 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #303.
When was the name Madeleine most popular?
Madeleine peaked in 1998, when 1,424 American girls received the name (ranked #217 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Madeleine?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,651 newborn American girls was named Madeleine. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.