Madeline is an elegant and timeless given name of French origin, derived from the Germanic elements 'mag' meaning 'battle' and 'thruth' signifying 'strength'. It was first introduced to France by the Franks, a Germanic tribe that settled in Gaul during the Late Roman Empire. Over time, Madeline gained popularity as a feminine form of the name 'Madeleine', which was borne by several historical figures including Queen Madeleine of France and Saint Madeleine, also known as Mary Magdalene.
The name Madeline saw its highest popularity in recent years with 17 births in 2004, and has consistently had at least five births every year since 2001. However, it appears to have been less common in the early to mid-20th century, with no recorded births between 1931 and 1987.