Mädchen

The female first name Mädchen is derived from the eponymous German word and means 'the girl'. This term has its roots in the Middle Ages and is a diminutive form with the ending '-chen', making it a pet form of the word 'Magd' ('Mägdchen').

What does the name Mädchen mean?

The name Mädchen comes from the eponymous German term and simply means 'the girl'. Originally emerging in the Middle Ages, Mädchen is a diminutive form of the word 'Magd' ('Mägdchen'), which referred to a usually very young female person who worked as a servant in the household. The word 'Magd' has its roots in the Old High German term magad and in the Germanic *magaþi-, meaning 'girl, servant, maiden'. Although Mädchen is a German term, the first name plays practically no role in German-speaking areas and is not permitted as a first name in Germany. Nevertheless, Mädchen does appear as a first name, particularly in the USA, where it is occasionally also written without an umlaut, as Madchen.

Where does the name Mädchen come from?

The first name Mädchen has its roots in Old High German and Old Germanic and means 'the girl'.

How do you pronounce Mädchen?

Mäd-chen

Popularity

In Germany, Mädchen is a less common first name. In 2009, it ranked 1,234th on the list of the most common female baby names. Its best placement was in 2008, reaching rank 933. From 1930 to 2024, Mädchen was used as a first name, averaging 3rd place. However, in the last ten years, no child has been named this way.

Nicknames & pet names

Girl / Mädl / Ragazza

Famous people

• Mädchen Amick (actress)
• Mädchen, lach doch mal (song by the Wise Guys)
• Weil ich ein Mädchen bin (song by Lucilectric)