Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Magdalena

Magdalena is the German, Spanish, Slavic and Nordic version of Magdalene, the Biblical Latin form of Mary Magdalene. Magdalene means quite simply “of Magdala”. Mary Magdalene is one of the more well-known female characters in the New Testament, and so called Magdalene because she was from Magdala, a village on the Sea of Galilee (Magdala comes from a Hebrew word meaning “tower”). In Luke 8:2 she was one of the women who had been “healed of evil spirits and infirmities”. Post-resurrection, Mary Magdalene is the first person to whom Jesus appeared. That Jesus would first appear to a woman is a notable event indeed! It underscores the importance of women to his ministry. Mary Magdalene became a popular saint in medieval times and so her name became quite common by the 1600s. Magdalene became Madeleine in France and the French helped popularize the name in England (where it’s traditionally spelled Madeline). Today Magdalena is quite cosmopolitan, found on the charts of Austria, Germany, Poland, Chile, Croatia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Maggie, Magda, Alena and Lena are all possible nicknames.

All About the Baby Name – Magdalena

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME MAGDALENA

The number Four personality is marked by stability and discipline. This is the personality that follows the rules and is conservative by nature.  They have an earth-bound energy that prefers to build things methodically on top of firm foundations; they don't cut corners. Fours take their time and don't like to be hurried. But the outcome of their endeavors is likely to result in some strong and useful structure, which makes them great engineers and inventors. Fours are anything but frivolous or controversial. This is a trustworthy, straight-forward personality that embodies dedication and organization. They are the backbone and anchor in their relationships, careers and communities. They are tidy, punctual, and full of integrity. Hard-work comes naturally to a Four and they are immensely reliable. This is the personality you can always count on.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME MAGDALENA

Magdalena is basically the Hispanic-American version of Madeline. It’s a name that celebrates the Biblical character of Mary Magdalene. Because Magdalena has mainly been restricted to Spanish, German, Slavic and/or Scandinavian-Americans, it has never achieved enormous success in the United States. Yet there’s something very European and cosmopolitan about this name despite its deeply religious significance. The name lost its position on America’s Top 1000 list in 2010 and is only given to a little more than 200 babies per year at this point. It’s a beautiful four-syllable name and one with plenty of pet form possibilities.

Quick Facts

ON MAGDALENA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

German

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

4

RANKING POPULARITY:

N/A

PRONUNCIATION:

mag-de-LEEN-ah

SIMPLE MEANING:

Mary Magdalene, Tower

Characteristics

OF MAGDALENA

Dependable

Solid

Practical

Hard-working

Industrious

Studious

Conservative

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Magdalena

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME MAGDALENA

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Magdalena

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME MAGDALENA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Magdalena


Popular Songs

ON MAGDALENA

Sweet Magdalena of My Misfortune
a song by Cracker

Maria Magdalena
a song by Sandra

Magdalena
a song by Leo Sayer

Magdalena Mi Amor!
a samba song by Dig

Catalina Magdalena
a song by Jennifer Rose

Famous People

NAMED MAGDALENA

Magdalena Maleeva (Bulgarian tennis player)
Magdaléna Rybáriková (Slovakian tennis player)
Magdalena Neuner (German Olympic biathlete)
Magdalena Abakanowicz (Polish artist)
Magdalena Rivas (contestant on America's Next Top Model)
Marie Magdalena (birth name of Marlene Dietrich which she used to create Marlene)

Children of Famous People

NAMED MAGDALENA

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Magdalena

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME MAGDALENA

Mary Magdalene (Maria Magdalena) has the distinction of being the second-most well-known woman in the New Testament, after, of course, Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. She is honored as a saint by many Christian denominations. Because of the proliferation of the use of the name “Mary” in the New Testament, Mary Magdalene got the probably erroneous reputation early on of being a “bad” girl. This portrayal was furthered by early church fathers and emphasized by religious art over the centuries. There is, in fact, no evidence to associate her with the woman Mary who was the acknowledged sinner, but the confusion took hold and actually seems to have imbued her with a certain sympathetic identity. Who needs another saint, anyway? In the Gospels, Mary Magdalene is credited with three pretty big events: she witnesses the crucifixion of Jesus, his burial, and then the empty tomb from which Jesus rose after three days. These are solemn occasions, and they are unconnected to the stories of the woman from whom seven demons were exorcised, the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus, or the woman who dried her own tears with her sensuous long red hair. Contemporary Gnostic accounts go so far as to depict her as Jesus’ most beloved apostle who is called upon to spread his word, thus sparking an outrage of jealousy from the Apostles, particularly Peter. Who knows where legend ends and lies begin? Whatever her own truth, Mary Magdalene lives on today in a special aura, and we welcome the solicitude of one who was, perhaps, just like the rest of us – flawed and yet - ever striving.