girl's name
Madilyn
MAD-uh-lin (English)
- Origin Hebrew, French
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 3
- Letters 7
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 24,691
the United States
#464
2025 births
Madilyn is a girl's name meaning "woman of Magdala." It's a modern American spelling of Madeline, which comes from Mary Magdalene, the follower of Jesus named for a town on the Sea of Galilee. The -lyn spelling became popular in this century.
- Madilyn is a name of Hebrew, French origin.
- Peaked in 2008, when 1,169 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 5,008 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1924.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Madilyn Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1920s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 7 |
| 1930s | 24 |
| 1940s | 32 |
| 1950s | 29 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 75 |
| 1990s | 1,191 |
| 2000s | 6,936 |
| 2010s | 10,129 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 5,193 |
What Madilyn Means
Madilyn means from Magdala, a place whose name is linked with a Hebrew word for a tower. It connects a current American style with one of the most important women in the Gospels.
Where Madilyn Comes From
Magdala was a fishing town in Galilee, and Mary Magdalene takes her name from it. Latin Magdalena became French Madeleine, and that form spread through Europe, with English Madeline and Madelyn close behind. The town's name comes from Aramaic and Hebrew words for a tower. Behind the Name lists Madilyn with many variants of the same root. American parents favored -lyn endings in recent decades, and that fashion produced Madilyn, Madelyn and Madilynn, all close in sound. The Bump and Mama Natural both describe it as a form of Madeline, which is the clearest account.
Madilyn in Use
Madison and Maddie overlap with this name in American use, and many Madilyns answer to Maddie. French Madeleine has its own association with Proust and the small cakes.
How Popular Is Madilyn?
In 2025, Madilyn was given to 662 babies in the United States, ranking #464 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Madilyn Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Madilyn
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Madilyn Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Madilyn over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Madilyn
- English MAD-uh-lin
1 nickname for Madilyn
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Madilyn in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Madilyn
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Madilyn — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Madilyn
What does the name Madilyn mean?
Woman of Magdala, through Madeline.
Is Madilyn the same as Madeline?
Yes. It's a modern American spelling.
What is a nickname for Madilyn?
Maddie.
How popular is the name Madilyn?
In 2025, Madilyn was given to 662 babies in the United States, ranking #464 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Madilyn a girl's or a boy's name?
Madilyn is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Madilyn?
Madilyn has 3 syllables.
When was Madilyn most popular?
Madilyn peaked in 2008, when 1,169 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is Madilyn a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Madilyn currently ranks #464 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.