UK girl's name
Magdalena
A feminine name of Greek origin signifying a 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.
Magdalena is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Magdalena popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1603, with 19 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 57 births.
This profile covers 751 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 783 living people in the UK are called Magdalena. 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
- • Magdalena ranked #1603 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 19 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 57 girls were registered as Magdalena.
- • Magdalena ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #439 in 2014.
- • About 783 living people in the UK are estimated to have Magdalena as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1603
2024
Births in 2024
19
Latest year
Peak year
2012
57 births
Estimated living
783
2026
Meaning
What does Magdalena mean?
Magdalena is a feminine given name derived from the ancient Aramaic name Migdal, meaning "tower" or "fortress." The name has its roots in the Hebrew Bible, where it appears as the name of a town in the region of Galilee. It gained widespread popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages, primarily due to its association with Mary Magdalene, a prominent figure in the New Testament.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Magdalena can be traced back to the 4th century, when Saint Mary Magdalene was venerated as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Her name was often invoked in religious texts and liturgies, contributing to the name's widespread adoption among Christian communities.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Magdalena. One of the most famous was Magdalena of Valois (1443-1495), a French princess who married Gaston de Foix, the Count of Candalle. Another prominent figure was Magdalena of Brandenburg (1487-1534), a German princess who played a significant role in the Reformation movement.
In the realm of arts and literature, Magdalena Ventura (1766-1846) was a renowned Italian poet and writer who gained recognition for her sonnets and lyrical compositions. The name also appears in the works of renowned authors, such as the character Magdalena in the novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera.
The name Magdalena also holds significance in the world of music. Magdalena Kozená (born 1973) is a celebrated Czech mezzo-soprano who has performed in prestigious opera houses around the world. Additionally, Magdalena Baczewska (1794-1858) was a Polish composer and pianist renowned for her contributions to the development of Polish national music.
While the name Magdalena has maintained its popularity throughout the centuries, it has also undergone various spellings and variations across different cultures and languages. Some examples include Madeleine in French, Maddalena in Italian, and Magdalena in Spanish and Portuguese.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Magdalena over time
The chart below shows babies named Magdalena registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Magdalena, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 19 births in 2024, compared with 57 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Magdalena by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Magdalena 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 | #1519 | 103 | 5 |
| 2010s | #899 | 421 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1496 | 203 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2458 | 24 | 4 |
Geography
Where Magdalena is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Magdalena. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Magdalena ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #439 in 2014.
Across the UK
Magdalena in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#809 in 2018
8 years of NRS records, 33 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#439 in 2014
1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Magdalena
-
Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz
biologist
British biologist of Polish descent
1963-
-
Magdalena Sauer
architect
South African architect
1890-1983
-
Magdalena Wolska
politician
Northern Irish election candidate
Related
Names similar to Magdalena
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Magdalena: questions and answers
How popular is the name Magdalena in the UK right now?
In 2024, Magdalena was ranked #1603 for girls in England and Wales, with 19 births registered.
When was Magdalena most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 57 babies registered as Magdalena in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Magdalena?
A feminine name of Greek origin signifying a woman from Magdala.
How many people are called Magdalena in the UK?
A total of 751 babies have been registered as Magdalena across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 33 more in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Magdalena most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Magdalena ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #439 in 2014. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.