Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Madeleine - how is it pronounced?

63 replies

WestMeadow · 25/08/2016 23:18

We love the name Madeleine Ivy, for our daughter (who's due in 3 weeks). However, we cannot agree on how it's pronounced. I like it said as 'Mad-eh-lyn' (honestly, if it's not pronounced like this, I won't like it as much Blush) he says it 'Mad-ah-len'

Help!?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
HJL2506 · 19/07/2018 12:23

I'm from Essex and it would come out as Madder-Lyn x

ElsieLee · 19/07/2018 11:55

Im down south uk near Cambridge and i pronounce it as mad-ah-lynn

dancingunicorns123 · 15/07/2018 22:48

Mad eh lyn

sonnyboo · 15/07/2018 09:15

Yes, I meant that Madeline is a different form of the name. And easier to pronounce in English than the French Madeleine.

Pemba · 15/07/2018 02:46

Not really, Madeline is just the old British/American version of the same name. And a previous poster said they knew someone who spelled the name Madeleine, yet pronounced it 'mad-eh-line' to rhyme with vine like the girl in the story.

sonnyboo · 14/07/2018 23:43

Madeline is a different name

sonnyboo · 14/07/2018 23:43

Mah-de-LENN

Emphasis on last syllable

MissMoodyMoo · 14/07/2018 18:37

Mad-e-line
Line as in washing line 😂😂

Pemba · 14/07/2018 16:56

Oops never noticed that. Well I guess little Madeleine has been around for nearly two years now!

Westfacing · 14/07/2018 16:49

Madlin

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 14/07/2018 16:45

So it is Cosmoa! Why would anyone bump this?

Cosmoa · 14/07/2018 16:40

This post is almost two years old by the way folks!

Pemba · 14/07/2018 16:25

Lovely name, but unfortunately it's one of those with multiple pronunciations. I'd say your way is the most common, in the UK now though, so you wouldn't have too many problems. The way your DP is saying it seems to be only very slightly different from yours?

Apparently the traditional British version is Madeline, pronounced 'Mad-eh-line' - like the little girl in the books/cartoons, who lived in the 'old house in Paris that was covered in vine'. It was an American author, I think, but the character being French she should really have been a Madeleine, and not pronounced that way!

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 14/07/2018 16:24

I pronounce it like you OP.

Gorgeous name too.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 14/07/2018 16:09

Ma duh lin

Flamingosnbears · 14/07/2018 15:57

Usually Mad-el-in

BoyInTheOven · 14/07/2018 15:35

I'm currently watching the film with my dd, it's set in France and they are pronouncing it Mad-eh-line.
I would pronounce it as Mad-a-Lyn, I've known a couple of Madeliene's and this is how they've pronounced it.

MariaMadita · 14/07/2018 15:15

Mad-len. Like the pastry Wink

That's how my (French) great aunt's name was pronounced.

MikeUniformMike · 14/07/2018 15:04

Names that can't be shortened are ones like Kay, Dee, Eve and Jay.

MikeUniformMike · 14/07/2018 15:04

Can't shorten Ivy? If you can shorten Amy and Ian, you can shorten Ivy.
Ames and E (yes, really!), if you're wondering.

MikeUniformMike · 14/07/2018 15:02

MAD-uh-lyn

michellelucette · 14/07/2018 14:39

Madeleine is a rather ambiguous name, as far as pronunciation. It really is just up to however the person decides they want it pronounced - there is no right or wrong way. In French, it's almost always mad-len, sometimes ma-du-len or ma-du-lane. In English, I've heard it pronounced countless ways. Among non-English speaking European countries, Madeline is largely pronounced ma-de-leen.

Puremince · 26/08/2016 23:11

Mad-eh-lane

HmmmHashtag · 26/08/2016 21:11

Mad eh lyn or Mad eh leen here Confused

badtime · 26/08/2016 20:54

Mad-eh-len.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread