Magda

Magda is a short form of Magdalena, itself derived from the Hebrew place name Migdal, meaning tower, which referred to the ancient town of Migdal on the Sea of Galilee. The name became widely used in Christian tradition through Mary Magdalene, the biblical figure from that town who is one of the most prominent women in the New Testament. Magda spread across a broad range of European languages — including German, Dutch, Polish, Hungarian, and Romanian — as an independent given name in its own right rather than merely a nickname. Related forms include Magdalena, Madeleine, Maddalena, and Marlene.