Magdalene is a unique and distinctive name of Latin origin, derived from the word "Magdala," which means "tower" or "fortress." It is believed to have been originally associated with the biblical town of Magdala, located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in present-day Israel.
The name Magdalene gained prominence during the Middle Ages due to its association with Mary Magdalene, a prominent figure in Christianity. According to the New Testament, Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons and who became one of his most devoted followers. After Jesus' crucifixion, she was the first person to witness his resurrection and was tasked with spreading this news to the other disciples.
Despite its historical significance, Magdalene has remained relatively uncommon as a given name throughout history. However, it has been used in various forms and variations across different cultures and languages. For example, in France, the name appears as Madeleine, while in German-speaking countries, Magdalena is more common.
In modern times, Magdalene has seen a slight resurgence in popularity among parents looking for distinctive and meaningful names for their daughters. While it may still be considered somewhat unusual compared to more traditional names like Mary or Catherine, Magdalene carries with it a rich history and deep symbolism that continues to captivate those who choose to bear this beautiful name.
The given statistics show the number of babies named Magdalene born annually in the United States from 1880 to 2023. Over this period, there have been a total of 9671 births with this name.
From the early years (1880-1900), we can observe that the number of babies named Magdalene varied between 9 and 33 births per year. The peak during this time was in 1892, with 36 births. After 1900, there was a noticeable increase in popularity, reaching its highest point in 1914 with 130 births.
However, the popularity of Magdalene as a baby name started to decline after World War I. The number of annual births dropped from 185 in 1918 to 71 in 1922, and continued to decrease throughout the following decades. During this period (1930s-1960s), there were fewer than 100 Magdalene births each year.
From the late 1960s until the mid-1980s, the number of Magdalene births remained relatively low, fluctuating between approximately 15 to 47 births per year. After this period, there was a slight resurgence in popularity, with an increase observed from around 30 births per year in the late 1980s to peaks of over 100 births in recent years (2016-2023).
In conclusion, while Magdalene has not been one of the most popular baby names throughout history, it has experienced periods of increased popularity and maintained a consistent presence among American baby names since the late 19th century.