Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Madeline or Madeleine

27 replies

GoldenGirl89 · 28/11/2024 15:15

I know this has been posted about before- and while I’m certain I’ve read everything out there that’s been written, I remain undecided on my daughter’s name. Originally, the debate was between Matilda and Madeline. I will admit I don’t find Matilda to be a very pretty name, but really prefer the associated nicknames (I really dislike Maddy/Maddie for Madeline). My two other girls, Beatrix and Eleanor, go by their NN (Bea, Nelle) so it’s admittedly a bit of a theme for us.

Which do you find to be a more classic English name: Matilda vs Madeline/Madeleine?

I THINK I’ve landed on Madeline BUT I really find the spelling Madeleine to be quite pretty. The issue is I plan to pronounce it as Mad-eh-LINE and I know that’s atypical with the French spelling. We are in the US. Hoping to gather opinions on the above!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Calliopespa · 28/11/2024 15:24

I don’t think of Madeline as very classic English at all. To me it’s a French name, and they would spell it Madeleine like the cakes.

Matilda maybe feels more English, I guess because of the daughter of Henry I, although in fact the name is in Germanic in origin.

If you don’t like Maddie as a NN could you try Magdalen?

hiddenselkie · 28/11/2024 15:20

I really love Matilda and Madeleine, but dislike the -line pronunciation for both Madeline and Madeleine. Madelyn was historically usual pronunciation for Madeline, before song Madeline became popular, but if you want Made-line pronunciation, then your best bet is Madeline. I think nobody in US knows how to pronounce Madeleine, but I think in French it's Mad-uh-lenn, with eh sound.