Madeleine or Madeline is a feminine given name, ultimately of

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

origin. The name exists in various spellings and pronunciations and is popular among those living in Europe and English-speakers, as well as followers of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

, as

Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cru ...

was a central figure in the

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...

. Madeleine is a modern rendering, found in English and French, of the Greek epithet Μαγδαληνὴ (''Magdalene'', "from

Magdala Magdala (Aramaic: מגדלא, ''Magdala'', meaning "tower"; Hebrew: , ''Migdal''; ar, المجدل, ''al-Majdal'') was an ancient Jewish city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, north of Tiberias. In the Babylonian Talmud it is known as Magda ...

"). It arose as a name due to its association with the

Biblical The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...

character and female

disciple A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. It can refer to: Religion * Disciple (Christianity), a student of Jesus Christ * Twelve Apostles of Jesus, sometimes called the Twelve Disciples * Seventy disciples in t ...

. It has a secondary meaning from German of "little girl" (''Mädelein''). Pronunciation depends on the language and the country. In France, the name is pronounced /ma.dlɛn/ and the two most popular pronunciations in English are /ˈmædələn/ (American English) and /ˈmadlɪn/ (British English). Madelyn/Madalyn is an alternative spelling. Diminutives include Maddy/Maddie,

Maddi Maddi is a deeztown and union councils of Pakistan, union council of Kulachi Tehsil, Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It is located at 31°52'59N 70°34'27E and has an altitude of 198 metres (652 feet). It is a ...

and

Leine The Leine (; Old Saxon ''Lagina'') is a river in Thuringia and Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Aller and the Weser and is long. The river's source is located close to the town of Leinefelde in Thuringia. About downriver, t ...

People named Madeleine

Madeleine of Valois Madeleine of France or Madeleine of Valois (10 August 1520 – 7 July 1537) was a French princess who briefly became Queen of Scotland in 1537 as the first wife of King James V. The marriage was arranged in accordance with the Treaty of Rouen, ...

(1520–1537), French Princess who was briefly Queen consort of Scotland through her marriage to James V of Scotland *

Madeleine Albright Madeleine Jana Korbel Albright (born Marie Jana Korbelová; May 15, 1937 – March 23, 2022) was an American diplomat and political scientist who served as the 64th United States secretary of state from 1997 to 2001. A member of the Democratic ...

(1937–2022), American politician and the first woman to become the United States Secretary of State *

Madeleine Astor Madeleine Talmage Astor (''née'' Force; later Dick and Fiermonte; June 19, 1893 – March 27, 1940) was an American socialite and a survivor of the . She was the second wife and widow of businessman John Jacob Astor IV. Early life Madeleine ...

(1893–1940), second wife and widow of millionaire John Jacob Astor IV and a survivor of the RMS ''Titanic'' disaster *

Madeleine Béjart Madeleine Béjart (8 January 1618 – 17 February 1672), was a French actress and theatre director, one of the most famous French stage actors of the 17th-century. She was the co-founder of the Illustre Théâtre. Life She belonged to the Béjart ...

(1618–1672), French actor and theatre director * Madeleine Brès (1842–1921), the first French woman to obtain a medical degree *

Madeleine Carroll Edith Madeleine Carroll (26 February 1906 – 2 October 1987) was an English actress, popular both in Britain and America in the 1930s and 1940s. At the peak of her success in 1938, she was the world's highest-paid actress. Carroll is rememb ...

(1906–1987), English actress *

Madeleine Damerment Madeleine Zoe Damerment (11 November 1917 – 13 September 1944) was a French spy in World War II who served in the French Resistance and Britain's Special Operations Executive. Damerment was to be a courier for SOE's Bricklayer circuit in Fran ...

(1917–1944), French Resistance member *

Madeleine Dean Madeleine Dean Cunnane (born June 6, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. The district includes almost all of Montgomery County, a suburban county north of P ...

(born 1959), American politician * Madeleine de Roybon d'Allonne (1646–1718), early settler of New France *

Madeleine Eastoe Madeleine Eastoe is an Australian retired ballet dancer. She was a principal dancer at The Australian Ballet. Biography Eastoe started ballet at age six, in Perth, Australia. In 1994, Eastoe moved to Melbourne to study at the Australian Ballet ...

, Australian ballet dancer * Madeline Ivalu, Canadian Inuk filmmaker and actor * Madeline Kripke (1943–2020), American book collector *

Madeleine Kunin Madeleine Kunin (née May; born September 28, 1933) is a Swiss-born American diplomat, author and politician. She served as the 77th governor of Vermont from 1985 until 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party. She also served as United States ...

(born 1933), American politician and the first woman to become the Governor of Vermont *

Madeleine Lartessuti Madeleine Lartessuti (1478–1543), also known as Magdeleine Lartessuti or Madeleine Lartessuti de Medicis, was a French shipper and banker. In Marseille, Marseilles, she became one of the most well known female maritime traders of her time. Her f ...

(1478–1543), French shipper and banker *

Madeleine L'Engle Madeleine L'Engle DStJ (; November 29, 1918 – September 6, 2007) was an American writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including ''A Wrinkle in Time'' and its sequels: ''A Wind in the Door'', ''A Swiftly Tilting Plan ...

(1918–2007), American writer; author of the ''Wrinkle in Time'' series *

Madeleine Mantock Madeleine Mantock (born 26 May 1990) is a British actress. She is known for her main role television work on the series '' Into the Badlands'' and a remake of the series ''The Tomorrow People''. She played in a main role as Macy Vaughn from the ...

(born 1990), British actress *

Madeleine McCann Madeleine Beth McCann (born 12 May 2003) is a British missing person who disappeared from her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on the evening of 3 May 2007, at the age of 3. ''The Daily Telegraph'' described the disappeara ...

(born 2003), British girl who disappeared while on vacation in Portugal in May 2007 *

Madeleine Mitchell Madeleine Louise Mitchell MMus, ARCM, GRSM, FRSA is a British violinist who has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in over forty countries.Madeleine Peyroux Madeleine Peyroux (born April 18, 1974) is an American jazz singer and songwriter who began her career as a teenager on the streets of Paris. She sang vintage jazz and blues songs before finding mainstream success in 2004 when her album ''Carele ...

(born 1973), American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist * Madeleine de Puisieux (1720–1798), French philosopher and feminist writer *

Madeleine Smith Madeleine Hamilton Smith (29 March 1835 – 12 April 1928) was a 19th-century Glasgow socialite who was the accused in a sensational murder trial in Scotland in 1857. Background Smith was the first child (of five) of an upper-middle-class ...

(1835–1928), Scottish socialite tried for murder *

Madeleine Stowe Madeleine Marie Stowe Mora (born August 18, 1958) is an American actress. She appeared mostly on television before her role in the 1987 crime-comedy film ''Stakeout''. She went on to star in the films ''Revenge'' (1990), ''Unlawful Entry'' (199 ...

(born 1958), American actress *

Madeleine Vionnet Madeleine Vionnet (; June 22, 1876, Loiret, France – March 2, 1975) was a French fashion designer. Vionnet trained in London before returning to France to establish her first fashion house in Paris in 1912. Although it was forced to close in 1 ...

(1876–1975), French fashion designer who was the first to cut dresses on the bias *

Madeleine Worrall Madeleine Worrall (born 1977)Madeleine Worrall Biography
1MDb, Retrieved 3 April 2014 i ...

(born 1977), Scottish actress *

Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland (Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine; born 10 June 1982) is the second daughter and youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Upon her birth, she was third i ...

(born 1982), seventh in line to the Swedish throne

People named Madeline

Madeline Bell Madeline Bell (born July 23, 1942) is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s with pop group Blue Mink, having arrived from America in the gospel show ''Black Nativity'' in 1962, with the v ...

(born 1942), American soul singer * Madeline McDowell Breckenridge (1872–1920), American women's suffragette leader and reformer *

Madeline Brewer Madeline Kathryn Brewer (born May 1, 1992) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Tricia Miller in the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy award-winning series ''Orange Is the New Black'' (2013), her role in ''Hemlock Grove (TV series ...

(born 1992), American actress *

Madeline Carroll Madeline Carroll (born March 18, 1996) is an American actress known for starring as Juli Baker in '' Flipped'', as Molly Johnson in ''Swing Vote'', as Farren in ''The Spy Next Door'', and as Willow O'Neil in ''The Magic of Belle Isle''. Early ...

(born 1996), American actress *

Madeline McWhinney Dale Madeline McWhinney Dale (March 11, 1922 – June 19, 2020) was an American economist and banker. She was the first female officer of the Federal Reserve Bank and the bank's first female vice-president. She was also the first woman candidate, and f ...

(1922–2020), American economist and banker *

Madeline Duggan Madeline Elizabeth Duggan (born 28 June 1994) is a British actress, known for her portrayal of Lauren Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 2006 to 2010. Career In 2003, Duggan portrayed the role of Little Cosette in a production o ...

(born 1994), English actress *

Madeline Fairbanks Madeline (Madeleine) (November 15, 1900 – January 15, 1989) and her twin sister Marion Fairbanks (November 15, 1900 – September 20, 1973) were American stage and motion picture actresses active in the silent era. The two sisters were seemin ...

(1900–1989), American actress * Madeline Ivalu, Canadian filmmaker and actress *

Madeline Juno Madeline Obrigewitsch (born 11 August 1995), better known by her stage name Madeline Juno, is a German singer-songwriter. She released her first single "Error" in November 2013. Early life Madeline Juno was born on 11 August 1995. Her father i ...

(born 1995), German singer-songwriter *

Madeline Kahn Madeline Gail Kahn (''née'' Wolfson; September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was an American actress, comedian and singer, known for comedic roles in films directed by Peter Bogdanovich and Mel Brooks, including '' What's Up, Doc?'' (1972), '' ...

(1942–1999), American actress, comedian and singer * Madeline Lewellin (1854–1944), Australian artist *

Madeline Manning Madeline Manning Mims (born January 11, 1948) is a former American runner. Between 1967 and 1981 she won ten national titles and set a number of American records. She participated in the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Summer Olympics. She likely also woul ...

(born 1948), American track and field runner * Madeline Mitchell (born 1989), American beauty pageant contestant *

Madeline Perry Madeline Perry (born 11 February 1977 in Banbridge, Northern Ireland) is a former professional squash player from Northern Ireland. She was raised in Northern Ireland and lives in Philadelphia. In November 2006 at the World Open in Belfast, s ...

(born 1977), professional squash player from Northern Ireland *

Madeline Smith Madeline Smith (born 2 August 1949) is an English actress. After working as a model in the late 1960s, she went on to appear in many television series and stage productions, plus comedy and horror films, in the 1970s and 1980s. She is perhaps ...

(born 1949), English actress and comedian *

Madeline Zima Madeline Zima (born September 16, 1985) is an American actress. She portrayed Grace Sheffield on the CBS sitcom ''The Nanny'' (1993–1999), Mia Lewis on the Showtime comedy drama series ''Californication'' (2007–2011), and Gretchen Berg on ...

(born 1985), American actress

Fictional characters

Madeline ''Madeline'' is a media franchise that originated as a series of children's books written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian-American author. The books have been adapted into numerous formats, spawning telefilms, television series a ...

, heroine of the book series of the same name by Ludwig Bemelmans *Monsieur Madeleine, an alias used by

Jean Valjean Jean Valjean () is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. The story depicts the character's struggle to lead a normal life and redeem himself after serving a 19-year-long prison sentence for stealing bread to feed his ...

in the novel ''Les Misérables'' *

Madeline Bassett Madeline Bassett is a fictional character in the Jeeves stories by English comic writer P. G. Wodehouse, being an excessively sentimental and fanciful young woman to whom Bertie Wooster periodically finds himself reluctantly engaged. Life and ch ...

, a recurring character in the Jeeves stories of P. G. Wodehouse *Madeline Bray, the wife of

Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'' or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' (or also ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Containing a Faithful Account of the Fortunes, Misfortunes, Uprisings, Downfallings, and Complete Career of the ...

in the novel of that name by Charles Dickens *Madeleine Cahill, in ''

The 39 Clues ''The 39 Clues'' is a series of adventure novels written by a collaboration of authors, including Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, Patrick Carman, Linda Sue Park, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Roland Smith, David Baldacci, J ...

'' novel series *Madeleine Elster, the mysterious central character in Hitchcock's film, ''Vertigo'' *

Maddie Fitzpatrick ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'' is an American sitcom created by Danny Kallis and Jim Geoghan. The series aired on Disney Channel from March 18, 2005, to September 1, 2008. The series was nominated for an Emmy Award three times and was also n ...

(Madeline), in Disney's TV series ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'' *Madeleine Gotto, from the Canadian children's animated television series ''

Mona the Vampire ''Mona the Vampire'' is an animated children's television series that is based on a children's book of the same name written and illustrated by Sonia Holleyman, as well as a series of novels illustrated by Holleyman and written by Hiawyn Oram. ...

'' *Madeleine Gravis, from Charlie Kauffman's film, ''

Synecdoche, New York ''Synecdoche, New York'' (pronounced ) is a 2008 American postmodern psychological drama film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman in his directorial debut. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as an ailing theater director who works on an incr ...

'' *Madeleine Hanna, the heroine of Jeffrey Eugenides' 2011 book ''

The Marriage Plot ''The Marriage Plot'' is a 2011 novel by the American writer, Jeffrey Eugenides. The novel grew out of a manuscript that Eugenides began after the publication of his sophomore Pulitizer Prize-winning novel, ''Middlesex.'' Eugenides has stated tha ...

'' *Madeline Hatter, daughter of the Mad Hatter in the Mattel doll franchise

Ever After High ''Ever After High'' is a fashion doll franchise released by Mattel in July 2013. It is a companion line to the ''Monster High'' dolls, with the characters being based upon characters from well-known fairy tales and fantasy stories instead of m ...

*Madeline "Mads" Ryback, in the television show ''

The Lying Game ''The Lying Game'' is an American teen drama mystery television series developed by Charles Pratt Jr. It premiered on ABC Family on August 15, 2011, and ended on March 12, 2013. The series was produced by Pratt Enterprises, Alloy Entertainment, ...

'' *Dr.

Madeleine Swann Madeleine Swann is a character in the James Bond films ''Spectre'' (2015) and ''No Time to Die'' (2021), played by actress Léa Seydoux. She is the only film character to have a child with Bond. Character biography Madeline Swann is the daughter ...

, love interest in the 2015 James Bond film ''Spectre'' *Madeline Wayne, title character of ''

Oh Madeline ''Oh Madeline'' is an American sitcom television series starring Madeline Kahn that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from September 27, 1983 to March 13, 1984. It was based on the British sitcom ''Pig in the Middle'' that aired on ITV ...

'', an American sitcom that lasted one season (1983–84) *Madeline Usher, the twin sister of Roderick Usher in the short story "

The Fall of the House of Usher "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1839 in ''Burton's Gentleman's Magazine'', then included in the collection ''Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque'' in 1840. The short story ...

" by

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

Madeline Westen Madeline Westen is a fictional character in the television series ''Burn Notice'' portrayed by Sharon Gless. She is Michael Westen's neuroticism, neurotic, chain-smoking mother. Overview It is unclear how much Madeline knows about her son's life ...

, in the television series ''Burn Notice'' * Madeline (''Celeste''), protagonist of the 2018 video game ''Celeste'' {{given name English feminine given names English-language feminine given names Feminine given names French feminine given names