Magdalena
Girl name · #849 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Magdalena? In official American birth records, Magdalena has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Magdalena is currently the #849 girl name in the United States — 320 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1095, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,625 girls born in 2025 was named Magdalena.
The 145-year story
Magdalena first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 19 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 325 girls were named Magdalena — good for #862 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Magdalena per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Magdalena against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Magdalena in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Magdalena is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Magdalena will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Magdalena is most common
Geography matters for names, and Magdalena is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Magdalena is most common in IL (0.4 per 1,000), WA (0.4 per 1,000), PA (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Magdalena is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Magdalena
Statistically, parents drawn to Magdalena tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marianna, Malena, Giovanna, Melina, and Alena.
MariannaMalenaGiovannaMelinaAlenaMilenaAdriannaEvangelina
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Magdalena | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 320 | #849 |
| 2024 | 323 | #838 |
| 2023 | 296 | #900 |
| 2022 | 301 | #910 |
| 2021 | 276 | #951 |
| 2020 | 256 | #994 |
| 2019 | 274 | #960 |
| 2018 | 246 | #1044 |
| 2017 | 279 | #948 |
| 2016 | 263 | #1005 |
| 2015 | 236 | #1095 |
| 2014 | 274 | #972 |
| 2013 | 215 | #1126 |
| 2012 | 216 | #1136 |
| 2011 | 214 | #1144 |
| 2010 | 230 | #1082 |
| 2009 | 271 | #980 |
| 2008 | 310 | #895 |
| 2007 | 325 | #862 |
| 2006 | 295 | #900 |
| 2005 | 321 | #806 |
| 2004 | 312 | #805 |
| 2003 | 264 | #903 |
| 2002 | 229 | #967 |
| 2001 | 270 | #846 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Magdalena?
In official American birth records, the name Magdalena first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 19 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Magdalena a popular girl name?
Magdalena ranked #849 among girls in 2025 with 320 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1095.
When was the name Magdalena most popular?
Magdalena peaked in 2007, when 325 American girls received the name (ranked #862 that year). Since 2007 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Magdalena?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,625 newborn American girls was named Magdalena. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.