Madeline in Chinese
Madeline in Chinese is 玛德琳 (Mǎ Dé Lín).
- Origin
- Hebrew/French
- Meaning
- woman of Magdala; tower
Madeline is a name of Hebrew/French origin, generally understood to mean "woman of Magdala; tower". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 2000s. Spellings pronounced the same way include Madelyn, which share the transliteration 玛德琳.
3 ways to write Madeline
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
玛德琳
Mǎ Dé Lín
The standard transliteration of Madeline: 玛 (mǎ, "agate"), 德 (dé, "virtue, morality"), 琳 (lín, "beautiful jade"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Each character maps to one sound of the English name: 玛 (mǎ) carries "ma", 德 (dé) carries "de", 琳 (lín) carries "lin". The tone contour is 3-2-2 (dipping, rising, rising).
Character breakdown
34 strokes total (simplified)- 玛
mǎ
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
agate
- 德
dé
Tone 2 · 15 strokes (simplified)
virtue, morality
- 琳
lín
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
beautiful jade
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
婉依
Wǎn Yī
Inspired by "woman of Magdala; tower": 婉 (wǎn, "gentle, graceful") + 依 (yī, "to depend on; gentle, clinging"), expressing elegance and good character.
Why these characters?
Madeline's meaning ("woman of Magdala; tower") has no direct Chinese equivalent, so 婉 (gentle, graceful) and 依 (to depend on; gentle, clinging) express elegance and good character instead.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 婉
wǎn
Tone 3 · 11 strokes (simplified)
gentle, graceful
- 依
yī
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to depend on; gentle, clinging
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
蔓雅
Màn Yǎ
蔓 (màn, "creeping vine") + 雅 (yǎ, "elegant, refined"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
Instead of the purely phonetic 玛, this uses 蔓 (màn, "creeping vine") for the "ma" sound, then 雅 ("elegant, refined") for meaning.
Character breakdown
26 strokes total (simplified)- 蔓
màn
Tone 4 · 14 strokes (simplified)
creeping vine
- 雅
yǎ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
elegant, refined
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Madeline
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Madeline ranked 90 among names recorded for girls, with 16,988 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 184,547 girls named Madeline since 1880, with the high point in 1998 (5,869 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #198 to #100 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1998
- Peak decade
- 2000s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 184,547
More About Madeline in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Madeline offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Madeline, you'll find options that work for you.
Madeline is also spelled Madelyn — both names use the same Chinese transliteration.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Madelyn in Chinese, Alexa in Chinese, and April in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Charlotte in Chinese, Audrey in Chinese, Molly in Chinese, and Addison in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Madeline, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Madeline to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Madeline in Chinese characters?
玛德琳 (Mǎ Dé Lín), or 瑪德琳 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Madeline?
US Social Security records show 184,547 girls named Madeline since 1880, with the high point in 1998 (5,869 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #198 to #100 among girls.
How many strokes does 玛德琳 have?
34 strokes in simplified form and 41 in traditional; per character: 玛 7, 德 15, 琳 12.