Madalyn is a feminine given name primarily used in English-speaking countries. It is a variant of Madeline, which itself derives from the French Madeleine, ultimately tracing back to the Aramaic title "of Magdala" via Magdalene.Origin and MeaningThe root name Magdalene refers to Mary Magdalene, a central figure in the New Testament. She was from Magdala, a village on the Sea of Galilee whose name meant "tower" in Aramaic. Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Gospels as a follower of Jesus who witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection. Her story made her a popular saint in the Middle Ages, leading to widespread use of the name across Europe.Evolution of the NameIn medieval England, the name Magdalene was anglicized as Madeline, while the form Magdalene (or Magdalen) remained as the scholarly version. From Madeleine and Madeline came numerous modern variants, including Madalyn, Madelyn, Madelynn, Madilyn, and Madilynn. The variant Madalyn specifically arose in the 20th century as an alternative spelling, often American in origin.Notable BearersMadalyn Murray O'Hair (1919–1995) was an American activist who co-founded the American Atheists and successfully had prayer removed from public schools in the case Abington School District v. Schempp in 1963. As an inverted yet equally prominent figure, Madelyn Dunham (1922–2008) was the maternal grandmother of former U.S. President Barack Obama. In popular culture, the name appears in the related form Madeline, the heroine of children's books by Ludwig Bemelmans, though the spelling Madalyn or Madelyn is often used in modern naming trends.Meaning: Variant of MadelineOrigin: EnglishType: First NameGender: FeminineUsage: English-speaking countries