Best spelling for Madeline?

ebalkits

My husband and I are 90% sure we're going to name daughter number two Madeline (pronounced Mad-ah-lin). We're not sure how we should spell it...I like the "Madeline" spelling the best, but it's often pronounced as "Mad-ah-line" which I don't like. My husband likes the French version, "Madeleine", but having never taken French myself, phonetically it just seems off to me. There's also the spelling "Madelyn", which I don't think would lend any confusion to pronunciation, however the spelling seems a bit too trendy to me. So, what do you guys think? Madeline, Madeleine or Madelyn?

JMU_Bride09

I prefer Madeleine. I think that Madeline is fine as well, but definitely stay away from Madelyn.

BlueRidge8

JMU_Bride09 said:

I prefer Madeleine. I think that Madeline is fine as well, but definitely stay away from Madelyn.

Yep

chapstix7

Madeline or Madeleine.

parenthood4

I like Madeline. You might have to correct a few times, but I think it's one of those where you tell someone emce and they remember

brookey79

I would go for Madeline too.  It was near the top of my list, but my DH vetoed it.

zebrapanther1311

I definitely prefer Madeleine but that's because I prefer the pron. mad-uh-line.

I'll be in the minority here and say go with Madelyn because that's the only way that would make me pronounce it with a Lin sound.

Beevol

I prefer Madeline. First, because I have a friend who is Madeline pronounced Mad-uh-lin and no one ever mispronounces her name (unless they're joking and referencing the French children's book). Second, because 'y's in names are the ultimate in trendy ridiculousness which is a turn off for me. And third, because I think Madeleine is just extra vowels for the sake of extra vowels which also feels too trendy for me, plus it doesn't follow English spelling rules which is just going to be annoying for your kid. 

DaisyZH

Madeleine

FakeFinn

I prefer Madeleine. Madeline is fine as well. I'd stay away from Madelyn.

ebalkits

Thanks for your input!

koalaberry

I would totally assume Madeline was pronounced "Line" not "Lin".  

I agree with you about the French spelling. 

I think Madelyn is the best bet.

erinms

Just not Madelyn

jennypolkadots

I prefer Madeleine. It looks more feminine and refined to me. It is clearly not mad-a-line.

At the same time I think Madeline's get the Madelyn pronunciation quite frequently especially in the south. I think you will be fine with either honestly. It is just one of those names that you have to pronounce the first time and expect her to need to spell/correct often. No biggie. 

NerdyLucy

I vote Madeleine.

jordannpaige10

DD is Madelyn.

I chose to spell it this way because of pronunciation also, it was the only spelling that I felt would be read Mad-ah-lin and I wouldn't have to correct people all the time.

The spelling Madelyn doesn't get a lot of love on this board. Go with your gut.

macska3

Definitely Madeleine. It's traditional and beautiful. I love the name Madeline, but the line not lin ending. Madelyn is a no go.

BlueRidge8

Whenever I see a Madelyn I internally pronounce it Made-Lyn...but that might be to be smarmy

bumpuser6119831

My grandmother name was spelled Madelene and is what we will name our little girl if we ever have one.

brooklynesque

Madeleine is the best route to the pronunciation you want.  I pronounce Madeline like the children's book (rhymes with fine -- as is evident when you read it) and lots of other people do too.

4N6s

I like Madeline.
Madeleine looks like mad-e-lean-e to me.

Caraluvs

I've always preferred the spelling Madeleine because of a favorite author (L'Engle).

harmonicbabe26

Madeleine is the correct one I believe. That's my own name too but spelled Madalyn. I can never find anything with my name on it though (key chains, mugs etc) and sometimes. I wish it was Madeleine.

daystardreams

The only spelling I like is Madeline.

smerka

Just to through it out there as an alternative, I know a Madelon. She is a cool old lady. But I prefer Madeline.

thiscoffeechick

zebrapanther1311 said:

I definitely prefer Madeleine but that's because I prefer the pron. mad-uh-line.

I'll be in the minority here and say go with Madelyn because that's the only way that would make me pronounce it with a Lin sound.

___________________
This. I really like it when you can tell the pronunciation just by reading it... And no matter how you pronounce it you'll have to spell it out for people anyway so you might as well go for something which can be read.
And I don't think the "lyn" makes it obnoxiously trendy because Madelyn is a legit name. It's not like Jaxlyn or Bradelyn.... THOSE are annoying.

takmjs

My daughter is Madelyn, but as a teacher who has seen several Madelyn's the last few years (none before we had our daughter, though, which is why we chose the name--and because of what you said about mad-uh-line), I've seen lots of spellings. Some alternates I've seen are maddilynn, madalyn, madilynn. The ones with i's lend themselves to nicknames of Madi or Maddi without changing any spelling.

DawnJM25

lauraneedscoffee said:

I definitely prefer Madeleine but that's because I prefer the pron. mad-uh-line. I'll be in the minority here and say go with Madelyn because that's the only way that would make me pronounce it with a Lin sound.

___________________ This. I really like it when you can tell the pronunciation just by reading it... And no matter how you pronounce it you'll have to spell it out for people anyway so you might as well go for something which can be read. And I don't think the "lyn" makes it obnoxiously trendy because Madelyn is a legit name. It's not like Jaxlyn or Bradelyn.... THOSE are annoying.

Agree.  We went with Carolyn for DD, not to be trendy, but for pronunciation.  I would rather not have the uncertainty in pronunciation.  Madelyn isn't obnoxiously trendy like the examples PP gave.