Girl Name
Magdalena
Magdalena is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl's name across several naming traditions, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Considering Magdalena? It is a girl name, and ranks in our Rare popularity tier. Phonetically it shares territory with Magdalene.
Magdalena meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Magdalena has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Magdalena as M·A·G·D·A·L·E·N·A, with 9 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Magdalena is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Magdalena variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Magdalenaa, Magdalenae, Magdalenay, Magdalen.
- Nicknames: Magda and M.
- Middle names: Pair Magdalena with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Magdalena middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Magdalene, Magdaline, Magdaleno, Magdalen, Migdalia — full picks on the sibling names for Magdalena guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Magdalena? Browse our names like Magdalena guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Magdalena
What does the name Magdalena mean?
Magdalena has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Magdalena?
The exact origin of Magdalena is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Magdalena?
Magdalena has 9 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Magdalena a boy's or girl's name?
Magdalena is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Magdalena in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Magdalena sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Magdalena?
Names that share Magdalena's sound and style include Magdalene, Magdaline, Magdaleno, Magdalen, Migdalia.
What middle names pair well with Magdalena?
Good middle-name fits for Magdalena pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Magdalena is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Magdalena is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Magdalena?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Magdalena share its rhythm without rhyming — Magdalene, Magdaline, Magdaleno all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.