Given name & surname
Magda
“woman from Magdala”
Magda is a variant of Madeline. One Hebrew interpretation is “woman from Magdala.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Magda is a variant of Madeline. One Hebrew interpretation is “woman from Magdala.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Magda is a variant of Mājid. An origin associated with Mājid is Arabic. Magda is a variant of Madeline. An origin associated with Madeline is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Afrikaans usage, Magda is a diminutive of Magdalena. In German usage, Magda is a diminutive of Magdalene.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1888. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Magda through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,870
- 0 boys · 2,870 girls
- Most popular year
- 1966
- 76 babies
- 2025
- 10
- #9,853 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +2%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 10 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 9,853 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 1.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,387 as a first name in 2020; 1,019 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Magda’s family of names
In Polish usage, Magda is a diminutive of Magdalena. Magda has a related form in Madeline. In Swedish usage, Magda has a conventional equivalent in the Polish form Magdalena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Magda has relatives in 12 languages.
15 related names in 12 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Madelinevariant
- Magdalenafull form · Polish, Afrikaans
- Magdalenefull form · German, Danish
- Madlenvariant · German
- Maggdalikely variant
- Magdičkadiminutive · Czech
- Magdusiadiminutive · Polish
- Madziaclipped form · Polish
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Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 12
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- MadeleineFrench
- MaddalenaItalian
- Madelaineequivalent
- MagdalenEnglish
- Majidaequivalent
- Magdalaequivalent
- MailinIrish
- Магдаequivalent
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See also 13
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Magda
- Magda SzabóHungarian writer, poet and translator (1917–2007)
- Magda SchneiderGerman actress (1909–1996)
- Magda LinettePolish female tennis playerborn 1992
- Magda JulinSwedish figure skater (1894–1990)
- Magda FrankHungarian-Argentine sculptor (1914–2010)
- Magda ApanowiczCanadian actressborn 1985
- Magda OliveroItalian opera soprano (1910-2014)
- Magdaléna VášáryováSlovak actress, politician and diplomatborn 1948
- Magda SzubanskiAustralian actressborn 1961
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Magda, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Malinda
“one who is sweet and gentle”
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Marti
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18% boys · 82% girls
Marni
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Rhonda
“wielding a good spear”
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Marci
“dedicated to Mars, the god of war”
>99% girls
Maura
“moor” · “dark, swarthy”
>99% girls
Melinda
“one who is sweet and gentle”
>99% girls