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Baby names

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Original poster

Madeleine or Madeline?

32 replies

Koalafications · 14/05/2015 22:45

Which spelling is right, or are they both right?

Is Madeleine pronounced Mad-e-line and Madeline pronounced Mad-lynn?

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IdStillRatherBeKnitting · 16/05/2015 12:02

Totally outs self but doesn't care

I have a Madelyn.

There, the awful can't spell spelling! I love it!
She's Maddy to everyone (her choice).

I spelt it like this for two reasons...
ExMil said "Ooohh, Madeliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine, I'll never shorten it!",
and my mum has a name with a -lyn spelling.

Plus it's pronounced as it's spelt, and ime Madeline has to be spelt each time (over phone etc) as there's so many spellings anyway.

It's a beautiful name!

FatWalda · 16/05/2015 11:38

Just to clarify, it's not the Keats poem "Eve of St Agnes" that is translated from French! So that example still stands.

mamadoc · 16/05/2015 09:15

The poem is translated from the French though so it's not a great guide to pronunciation. I love that book but it has some dodgy rhymes and scanning because of translation issues.

I call my daughter Mad-uh-Lin and spell her name Madeleine. She, and all her friends, call her Maddie anyway.

I thought everyone would know how to pronounce it now because of Madeleine McCann.

FatWalda · 15/05/2015 17:34

Ah yes, there was a girl at my school called Elaine, and she was a bit mad Wink

IsadoraQuagmire · 15/05/2015 15:33

Another spelling is Madelaine.

Original poster
Koalafications · 15/05/2015 11:38

That's how I say it out loud 33going but I read it as Mad-e-line. No idea why!

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33goingon64 · 15/05/2015 11:16

It's French so think about how a French person pronounces it - more like Mad-e-len which I think is a prettier way of saying it.

Original poster
Koalafications · 15/05/2015 11:06

It's the other way round: Madeline is (usually) pronounced Mad er line, whereas Madeleine is usually

Thank you. That's useful.

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FatWalda · 15/05/2015 11:01

ShadowFire Let me put it another way. In the poem Madeline rhymes with 'mine' and 'divine'.

momb · 15/05/2015 10:46

It's the other way round: Madeline is (usually) pronounced Mad er line, whereas Madeleine is usually pronounce Mad er Lyn.

In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls in two straight lines
In two straight lines they broke their bread
And brushed their teeth and went to bed.
They left the house at half past nine
In two straight lines in rain or shine-
The smallest one was Madeline.

ShadowFire · 15/05/2015 10:36

How does Keats pronounce Caroline??

MigAndMog · 15/05/2015 08:48

whichever spelling you choose, in our experience you will get a whole range of spellings from other people in cards etc! I like Imogen too.

Original poster
Koalafications · 15/05/2015 08:26

I think so too, Lynette and it doesn't come with the confusing pronunciation options!

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turdfairynomore · 15/05/2015 00:29

I love Imogen. It's my DS17s friend's name but she is always Mog!

FatWalda · 15/05/2015 00:23

Madeline is pronounced like Caroline in the poem by Keats (The Eve of St Agnes)

ShadowFire · 15/05/2015 00:04

We have a Bagpuss DVD that we have inflicted on our small DC. They like the mice.

mamadoc · 14/05/2015 23:45

My top 2 girls names are Madeleine (definitely spelt that way) and Imogen!
I also liked Naomi and Esther but these were vetoed by DH.
Laurence for a boy.

madmother1 · 14/05/2015 23:41

LynetteScavo have loved reminiscing watching Bagpuss. THANK YOU X

LynetteScavo · 14/05/2015 23:24

Imogen is lovely Smile

Original poster
Koalafications · 14/05/2015 23:23

The only other girls name that DH and I can agree on at the minute is Imogen.

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Original poster
Koalafications · 14/05/2015 23:22

I've just googled it and it was made in 1974... Yes, that was quite a bit before my time!

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LynetteScavo · 14/05/2015 23:20

What else is on your list?

LynetteScavo · 14/05/2015 23:19

Maybe you're too young to to have been around when Bagpuss was on TV, but not young enough to have it inflicted on you by your parents as an essential part of your education, like my DC.

Original poster
Koalafications · 14/05/2015 23:16

London, Lynette Blush the cat looks familiar but I've not seen the programme before.

So this thread has confirmed that people pronounce it Mad-uh-Lynn and Mad-e-line.

I can't even decide which pronunciation I prefer, I read it one way and then say it another... Confused maybe it's a name I should take off the short list!

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LynetteScavo · 14/05/2015 23:12

Madeleine -pronounced Mad-a-lin

Koalafications - where do you come from to not know about Bagpuss?

Smile