NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Madlen

A feminine name of German origin meaning "woman from Magdala".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Madlen is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Madlen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 6 births.

This profile covers 50 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 50 living people in the UK are called Madlen. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Madlen ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 6 girls were registered as Madlen.
  • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Madlen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

6 births

Estimated living

50

2026

Meaning

What does Madlen mean?

The name Madlen has its roots in the Germanic languages, specifically in the Old German name Madalhild, which translates to "mighty in battle." It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 5th to 8th centuries AD, when Germanic tribes were dominant in parts of Europe.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Madlen can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a famous German epic poem from around the 13th century. In this work, a character named Madalheid is mentioned, which is a variant spelling of the name.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Madlen or its variations. One such person was Madlen Schmitt (1895-1971), a German painter and graphic artist who is known for her contributions to the Expressionist movement.

Another noteworthy figure was Madlen Furtado (1909-1991), a Brazilian pianist and composer who played a significant role in promoting classical music in her home country. Her compositions often drew inspiration from Brazilian folk traditions.

In the field of literature, Madlen Ostrowski (1896-1978) was a Polish-born American author and journalist who wrote extensively about her experiences as an immigrant in the United States. Her memoir, "The Immigrant's Daughter," published in 1938, provided a unique perspective on the challenges faced by immigrant families during that time.

The name Madlen also has religious connections, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Saint Madlen of Chios (1322-1388) was a Greek Orthodox nun and ascetic who is venerated for her pious life and posthumous miracles.

Furthermore, the name Madlen has been associated with royalty, as evidenced by Madlen Amalie von Wallmoden (1700-1756), a German noblewoman who was the mistress of King George II of Great Britain.

While the name Madlen may have evolved and taken on different spellings and variations over time, its Germanic origins and connection to strength and power have endured throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Madlen over time

The chart below shows babies named Madlen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Madlen, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Madlen
02356199820112024

Decades

Madlen by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Madlen was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5714 9 3
2010s #5054 22 6
2000s #3684 16 4
1990s #3848 3 1

Related

Names similar to Madlen

FAQ

Madlen: questions and answers

How popular is the name Madlen in the UK right now?

In 2024, Madlen was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Madlen most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 6 babies registered as Madlen in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Madlen?

A feminine name of German origin meaning "woman from Magdala".

How many people are called Madlen in the UK?

A total of 50 babies have been registered as Madlen across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.