Madeleine is a feminine given name of French origin. It comes from the Old French name Mahault, which was derived from the German name Adelheid. The name Adelheid is composed of the elements adal, meaning "noble," and heid, meaning "kind" or "loving."
The name Madeleine became popular in France during the Middle Ages. It was borne by several notable figures throughout history, including Madelein de Souvré, a French noblewoman who lived in the 16th century, and Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, a French educator and founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart, who was canonized in 1929.
In English-speaking countries, the name Madeleine gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is often associated with the French writer Gabriel Faure's song cycle "La Chanson de Madeleine" and the French film "Madeleine" starring Chevalier and Danielle Darrieux.
The name Madeleine has also been used as a given name for characters in literature, such as the protagonist of Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Lolita." It is often shorted to Maddie or Madeline.
The name Madeleina is not very common in the United States, with only 8 babies given this name in the year 2017. This means that there were approximately 3 out of every million boys named Madeleina born that year. While this number may seem small, it's important to remember that each baby represents a unique individual with their own special qualities and talents. It's always exciting when parents choose a name for their child that is distinctive and meaningful to them.