Madalyn is a unique and beautiful name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish name "Máirín", which is a diminutive form of "Máire". "Máire" is the Irish equivalent of the English name "Mary".
The name Madalyn means "sea jewel" or "star of the sea". This meaning is derived from the Gaelic word "maighdean" which means "young woman", and "mara" which means "of the sea".
The name Madalyn has a rich history in Ireland. It was often used as a pet name for girls named Mary, but over time it has become a popular name in its own right. Many notable people have borne this name throughout history, including Madalyn Murray O'Hair, an American atheist and civil libertarian who founded the organization American Atheists.
Overall, Madalyn is a beautiful and unique name with a rich history and meaningful origins. It's no wonder that it has become such a popular choice for parents looking for a distinctive name for their daughters.
The name Madalyn experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century. While it was virtually unused from 1899 to 1970 with fewer than 30 births per year on average, its usage began to rise in the late 1970s and early 1980s, peaking in 2008 with 1144 births. However, since then, its popularity has declined steadily, with only 261 births recorded in 2022 and 294 in 2023. Overall, there have been a total of 22,658 births named Madalyn from 1899 to 2023.