Help us decide, girl name & spelling please :)

052806 · September 2014

I think we are pretty settled on the name Madeline/Madelyn, etc. It meets all of our criteria. It is a nice name, not too popular, and can be shortened to a natural, stand-alone nickname (we like that, and both of our older 2 kids have names like this as well).

I do like the spelling, Madeline, because of its simplicity, but I do not want it pronounced Mad-ah- LINE. I am not generally one for a random "y" in a name, BUT Madelyn IS a legitimate spelling, and it DOES convey the pronunciation we are going for. The French spelling is out for us because it is just too many vowels and can be pronounced differently than we are intending.

I know the different variations of this name's spelling have been discussed a million times already, but we are also now considering Madelaine (Mad-ah-lane) which is obviously pronounced differently than the 2 other variations mentioned. This may be nice considering all of the Madison's with nn Maddie out there right now.

So... I ask you ladies.

Madeline (nn Maddie)

Madelyn (nn Maddie)

or

Madelaine (nn Lainie, or Maddie, I guess)

MarxieVonTrapp · September 2014

Madeline (nn Maddie)

Madelyn seems to be a made-up spelling that should be pronounced Made Lyn. It may be a legitimate spelling, but Madeline is so pretty as is.

I don't like the spelling Madelaine, it also seems made-up, and would be pronounced Mad-uh-lane.

conradraging · September 2014

Madeline

bearfootz · September 2014

Madeline

BlueRidge8 · September 2014

052806 said:

I think we are pretty settled on the name Madeline/Madelyn, etc. It meets all of our criteria. It is a nice name, not too popular, and can be shortened to a natural, stand-alone nickname (we like that, and both of our older 2 kids have names like this as well).

I realize you've settled, but if your criteria is includes "not too popular" you might want to check the rankings in your state because I know about 25 little Madelines/Madelyns/etc. And more Maddy's than I care to count.

That said, much prefer Madeleine or Madeline. As PP said, Madelyn reads to me as "Made-Lyn"

052806 · September 2014

BlueRidge8 said:

052806 said:

I think we are pretty settled on the name Madeline/Madelyn, etc. It meets all of our criteria. It is a nice name, not too popular, and can be shortened to a natural, stand-alone nickname (we like that, and both of our older 2 kids have names like this as well).

I realize you've settled, but if your criteria is includes "not too popular" you might want to check the rankings in your state because I know about 25 little Madelines/Madelyns/etc. And more Maddy's than I care to count.

That said, much prefer Madeleine or Madeline. As PP said, Madelyn reads to me as "Made-Lyn"

I don't really understand that reasoning... then shouldn't Madeline also read as Made-LINE? Not just directed at you because I know other people have said this as well... but that sounds like a way to legitimize the hatred for the "random y".

Madeline is not extremely popular near me. Madison is much more popular.

BlueRidge8 · September 2014

052806 said:

BlueRidge8 said:

052806 said:

I think we are pretty settled on the name Madeline/Madelyn, etc. It meets all of our criteria. It is a nice name, not too popular, and can be shortened to a natural, stand-alone nickname (we like that, and both of our older 2 kids have names like this as well).

I realize you've settled, but if your criteria is includes "not too popular" you might want to check the rankings in your state because I know about 25 little Madelines/Madelyns/etc. And more Maddy's than I care to count.

That said, much prefer Madeleine or Madeline. As PP said, Madelyn reads to me as "Made-Lyn"

I don't understand that reasoning... then shouldn't Madeline also read as Made-LINE?

Madeline is not extremely popular near me.

Fair argument, I suppose I say that I read Madelyn that way because it's not considered a legitimate spelling, so I don't have a cultural reference to associate the pronunciation besides modernized/American.

052806 · September 2014

BlueRidge8 said:

052806 said:

BlueRidge8 said:

052806 said:

I think we are pretty settled on the name Madeline/Madelyn, etc. It meets all of our criteria. It is a nice name, not too popular, and can be shortened to a natural, stand-alone nickname (we like that, and both of our older 2 kids have names like this as well).

I realize you've settled, but if your criteria is includes "not too popular" you might want to check the rankings in your state because I know about 25 little Madelines/Madelyns/etc. And more Maddy's than I care to count.

That said, much prefer Madeleine or Madeline. As PP said, Madelyn reads to me as "Made-Lyn"

I don't understand that reasoning... then shouldn't Madeline also read as Made-LINE?

Madeline is not extremely popular near me.

Fair argument, I suppose I say that I read Madelyn that way because it's not considered a legitimate spelling, so I don't have a cultural reference to associate the pronunciation besides modernized/American.

I understand that.

One of my kids has a kind of trendy name that is not generally well liked on this board (though it is spelled legitimately), and the other one has a classic BN board favorite ... so we run the gamut in my house. That's why the "y" doesn't bother me.

capulet · September 2014

I prefer Madeline, which is the most legitimate spelling. The Madelines I know pronounce it with the short final syllable, so I think it's pretty typical and it's easy enough to correct people.

That said - to me it's a popular name. I know two close friends/relatives with Madelines plus some girls named Madeline (various spellings) at DD's school. (Also a zillion Madisons who might or might not go by Maddie.) I live in DC but I know Madelines in other parts of the country. Just be aware of its local popularity and whether it's trending upward, and realize that a name that isn't wildly popular now can be on the rise and might be everywhere by the time your DD's in school.

052806 · September 2014

capulet said:

I prefer Madeline, which is the most legitimate spelling. The Madelines I know pronounce it with the short final syllable, so I think it's pretty typical and it's easy enough to correct people.

That said - to me it's a popular name. I know two close friends/relatives with Madelines plus some girls named Madeline (various spellings) at DD's school. (Also a zillion Madisons who might or might not go by Maddie.) I live in DC but I know Madelines in other parts of the country. Just be aware of its local popularity and whether it's trending upward, and realize that a name that isn't wildly popular now can be on the rise and might be everywhere by the time your DD's in school.

It def varies so greatly by region and even more locally than that. DH also really likes Madison, and Madeline was our compromise. Madison is a no for me for 2 reasons... #1 it is far too trendy and #2 then all 3 of my kids and one of my 2 dogs will be named for Presidents (right now it was a coincidence... if we do that, it is def a purposeful theme)

saham07 · September 2014

Madelyn

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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4N6s · September 2014

I like Madelyn more so than Madeline. I think mad-a-line. I think the first spelling in unmistakeable.

052806 · September 2014

mermomo5 said:

This name is ridiculously popular. The nn maddie because of Madison as well makes it even more popular. If it comes down to spelling I would go with Madeline.

Ridiculous popularity is regional.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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allthecheese · September 2014

Popularity is definitely regional. I have been liking the name MADELINE, my vote for you, and it would be on my long list except I just text my cousin to ask what her children's names were. I thought she had a Madison but it's Madelyn. This woman who choose this spelling also chose to name her other daughter Mikayda.

DaisyZH · September 2014

I like Madeline best.

Beevol · September 2014

I have a coworker whose name is spelled Madeline and pronounced mad-uh-lin - she never has problems with people calling her 'mad-uh-line.' I would go with Madeline because I'm not big on the adding 'y's to names trend.

BananaLettuce · September 2014

I actually know someone with a Mado.lynne

052806 · September 2014

Joy2611 said:
The amount of people supporting Madelyn in this thread is breaking my heart.

Madeline/Madeleine is a French name and validly pronounced mad-uh-lin, mad-uh-line, mad-uh-len or mad-uh-leen. (should you not believe me: https://www.behindthename.com/name/madeline).

Madelyn is just an English attempt at ruining a French word.

Sickening is a bit much. Like lots of names, as they begin to be used in other languages, spellings change to accommodate that. Like Ilana, Alana, Elana.

sagegoodenough · September 2014

I prefer Madeline for spelling, but I also like the mad-ah-line pronunciation better than the lyn ending.

With either pronunciation I still think the Madeline spelling looks nicer.

danascullyx · September 2014

Go with Madeline.

LNic5 · September 2014

I prefer Madeline

Coconuthead · September 2014

Madeline, no contest.

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MichaelaMTP · September 2014

My niece's name is spelled Madelyn. She's less than a year old.

koalaberry · September 2014

I swear this is an old post. Saw something Identical a few weeks ago.

chapstix7 · September 2014

Madeline is one of my very favorite names. I much prefer Madeline over Madelyn. Madelyn to me is very visually unappealing. I believe most people default to the Lynn pronunciation anyway.

052806 · September 2014

Joy2611 said:

mermomo5 said:

052806 said:

Joy2611 said:
The amount of people supporting Madelyn in this thread is breaking my heart.

Madeline/Madeleine is a French name and validly pronounced mad-uh-lin, mad-uh-line, mad-uh-len or mad-uh-leen. (should you not believe me: https://www.behindthename.com/name/madeline).

Madelyn is just an English attempt at ruining a French word.
Sickening is a bit much. Like lots of names, as they begin to be used in other languages, spellings change to accommodate that. Like Ilana, Alana, Elana.
If you ask for an opinion you're going to get one. This is your baby so go with what you like. In all fairness you asked.
And I - uh - never said "sickening."

I said heart breaking and recommended you be true to the language and the name that's been around a hell of a lot longer than you.

Eh. Potato, potaytoh

daystardreams · September 2014

I've seen it spelt so many different ways. I'm a preschool teacher and I've never had a class without a Maddie in it. This year I have a Madelyn and a Madylin. I prefer Madeline but I've never had one that spelled it this way. I think you can spell it Madeline, Madeleine, or Madelyn and you aren't going to have any problems with pronunciation.

queenbone · September 2014

I would always pronounce Madeline with a hard -LINE.

You should use Madeleine; it honest to God is not that difficult. I was able to spell it as a child and I am a horrible speller.

Madelaine is dreadful IMO.

052806 · September 2014

dreadpiratebuttercup said:
Madeleine or Madeline. Madelyn is just a butchered and juvenile spelling of a beautiful name.

Also, you shouldn't ask for opinions unless you are prepared to hear honest ones.

Um, I can handle it just fine. But I'm just as welcome to respond with my own opinion rather than just sitting here and "taking if all in". The name is not popular near me, no matter how many times people tell me it's popular near them- it is not a popular name here.

052806 · September 2014

Joy2611 said:

052806 said:

Joy2611 said:

mermomo5 said:

052806 said:

Joy2611 said:
The amount of people supporting Madelyn in this thread is breaking my heart.

Madeline/Madeleine is a French name and validly pronounced mad-uh-lin, mad-uh-line, mad-uh-len or mad-uh-leen. (should you not believe me: https://www.behindthename.com/name/madeline).

Madelyn is just an English attempt at ruining a French word.
Sickening is a bit much. Like lots of names, as they begin to be used in other languages, spellings change to accommodate that. Like Ilana, Alana, Elana.
If you ask for an opinion you're going to get one. This is your baby so go with what you like. In all fairness you asked.
And I - uh - never said "sickening."

I said heart breaking and recommended you be true to the language and the name that's been around a hell of a lot longer than you.

Eh. Potato, potaytoh
****

Not at all.

Please stop putting words in my mouth.

Seriously?!

Thank you to everyone else for your input! I appreciate it and have a lot to think over.

052806 · September 2014

Joy2611 said:
Yes, @052806.

Heart breaking implies sadness.

Sickness implies disgust.

They are two very different connotations. Language has nuance. You just want to start a fight since I think spelling the name Madelyn is ridiculous. This was your defense mechanism - to say I used meanings far harsher than I intended.

So YES - stop it.

Thanks for the psychoanalysis.

052806 · September 2014

Thank you everyone! I think Madeline will be what we end up going with- we still have time to think, but that "y" throws me off- I just can't get fully behind it.

baloneydisc · September 2014

We used the Madeleine spelling (and -lynn pronunciation) for DD, along with the nn Maddie. Everyone pronounces it correctly, though the spellings I've seen are all over the place.

052806 · September 2014

baloneydisc said:

We used the Madeleine spelling (and -lynn pronunciation) for DD, along with the nn Maddie. Everyone pronounces it correctly, though the spellings I've seen are all over the place.

It is really beautiful, both the way it looks and the way that it sounds. But I am just not sure it works for us.

BananaLettuce · September 2014

I'd pronounce Madeline as Mad-uh-LINE. According to BTN, this spelling would be the best for the "lynn" pronunciation:
https://www.behindthename.com/name/madeleine

BananaLettuce · September 2014

I'm also going to hijack this thread and ask if it would be weird to have a Madeline/Madeleine with the father being Matthew? I figured Matilda would be too matchy. I really love both names.

DawnJM25 · September 2014

chapstix7 said:

Madeline is one of my very favorite names. I much prefer Madeline over Madelyn. Madelyn to me is very visually unappealing. I believe most people default to the Lynn pronunciation anyway.

I disagree that people default to the -lynn pronunciation. DD is Carolyn because we wanted the -lyn pronunciation (not to be trendy) and people still call her CaroLINE. It seems to me like the LINE pronunciation is more of the default, at least in my region. I don't usually like the insertion of the random y, either, but there are MUCH worse examples than Madelyn or Carolyn.

jordannpaige10 · September 2014

DD is Madelyn.
I also spelled it this way to avoid the "-line" pronunciation. This spelling never gets much love on this board.

I will add though, that since naming DD (Nov. 2012) I have seen what feels like a 100 Madelyn/Madelynn/Madelines. So I definitely think it has moved up in popularity. It being unpopular was one of my main reasons for also choosing this name, but I swear I hear and see it all the time now. Such a bummer.

Good luck!

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