Madeline
Girl name · #81 in 2025 · Uniqueness 39/100
Madeline ranks #81 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 3,086 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #91, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 583 girls born in 2025 was named Madeline.
Babies named Madeline per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Madeline first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 22 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 5,869 girls were named Madeline — good for #50 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Madeline against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Madeline in class?
Madeline scores 39 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Madeline is most common
Geography matters for names, and Madeline is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Madelines were TX (367), CA (348), NY (165), FL (137), NC (125). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Madeline
Statistically, parents drawn to Madeline tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Caroline, Madeleine, Jasmine, Mackenzie, and Natalie.
CarolineMadeleineJasmineMackenzieNatalieAutumnSavannahMadison
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Madeline | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,086 | #81 |
| 2024 | 2,922 | #86 |
| 2023 | 2,733 | #95 |
| 2022 | 2,700 | #102 |
| 2021 | 2,747 | #95 |
| 2020 | 2,800 | #96 |
| 2019 | 2,861 | #98 |
| 2018 | 2,918 | #100 |
| 2017 | 2,966 | #99 |
| 2016 | 3,280 | #90 |
| 2015 | 3,339 | #91 |
| 2014 | 3,445 | #89 |
| 2013 | 3,371 | #90 |
| 2012 | 3,162 | #96 |
| 2011 | 3,429 | #85 |
| 2010 | 3,604 | #77 |
| 2009 | 4,300 | #64 |
| 2008 | 4,820 | #56 |
| 2007 | 4,705 | #61 |
| 2006 | 4,477 | #71 |
| 2005 | 4,528 | #70 |
| 2004 | 4,767 | #63 |
| 2003 | 4,976 | #61 |
| 2002 | 5,114 | #56 |
| 2001 | 5,222 | #56 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Madeline a popular girl name?
Madeline ranked #81 among girls in 2025 with 3,086 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #91.
When was the name Madeline most popular?
Madeline peaked in 1998, when 5,869 American girls received the name (ranked #50 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Madeline?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 583 newborn American girls was named Madeline. It scores 39/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.