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madeline or madeleine?

25 replies

Odelay · 02/10/2010 21:59

how best to spell?

OP posts:
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morgan55 · 02/10/2010 22:04

madeline definitely

LynetteScavo · 02/10/2010 22:05

Madeleine. It's the proper way.

thisisyesterday · 02/10/2010 22:06

madeleine

Haliborange · 02/10/2010 22:07

madeleine.

Unless you want to pronounce it "Mad-el- lyne" I think.

BuntyPenfold · 02/10/2010 22:08

madeleine

mathanxiety · 03/10/2010 04:58

Madeleine.

ValiumSingleton · 03/10/2010 10:23

Madeleine. If you spell it Madeline I would wonder if the 'ine' was to be pronounced like Caroline.

rachel234 · 03/10/2010 11:03

Madeleine = Mad-eh-laine

Madeline = Mad-eh-lyne

So depends on which pronounciation you prefer.

HarrogateMum · 03/10/2010 11:08

My DD is Madeleine, think its the most common spelling.

pointydog · 03/10/2010 11:13

madeleine

joydivisionovengloves · 03/10/2010 13:00

Madeleine

TheNextMrsDepp · 03/10/2010 13:05

Madeleine. It is a French name, and if I saw it spelled without the "e" I'd think someone had made a mistake.

MunchMummy · 03/10/2010 13:09

My DD is a Madeleine. We chose that way because the other way just sounded like "Made Line" to us.

She is only 2 and already has it spelt many ways by other people, including the midwife who registered her with the NHS with the wrong version just after she was a surprise home birth.

Doesn't bother us which way people use, we call her Maddie anyway.

AgonyBeetle · 03/10/2010 13:21

Madeline (pronounced mad-er-lin, like Catherine) is the trad English spelling (cf Keats) and more common in Ireland also.

Madeleine is the Fr spelling.

The Fr one is probably more common in the UK now, but we've come across both.

You can have pronounciation probs either way, tbh -- if you go for Madeleine people may say it mad-er-layne to rhyme with Elaine.

Otoh, if you go for Madeline, some people may pronounce it mad-er-lyne to rhyme with Caroline. And this is the pronunciation used in the film of the book -- maybe that's the US pronunciation?

I think the potential for mispronunciation is because the -ine spelling can be said in various ways, cf Caroline, Catherine, Josephine. You have to decide which mispronunciation would annoy you least. It's a pretty minor annoyance in the great scheme of things. Smile

chaya5738 · 03/10/2010 13:24

Madeleine definitely.

Ishtar2410 · 03/10/2010 13:29

Madeleine. Definitely the French spelling. It's our DDs name and we've had many different variations on the spelling.

We pronounce it mad-er-len - but usually she's a Maddie.

addictedtoportlandbabies · 03/10/2010 18:25

Madeleine - definitely. The other way just looks like a typo!!

mathanxiety · 03/10/2010 18:44

The pronunciation that rhymes with Caroline, or clothes line, is the predominant American pronunciation, and also the most popular spelling (Madeline). I have a DD with the mn Madeleine, named after a good few Irish ancestors and rellies; a lot of Irish families pronounce it 'Mad-e-leen'.

LiquoriceLila · 03/10/2010 20:35

Yep another vote for Madeleine here

AgonyBeetle · 03/10/2010 21:02

Well I have a Madeline who likes her name spelled that way adn has never been told it looks like a typo.

But then we have lots of Irish friends/family so it seems the more normal version.

The French spelling looks affected to me, fwiw.

Horses for courses.

sophiesmummie · 03/10/2010 21:30

I know both Madeleines (Madelaine) and Madelines (Madelyne), and don't think there is a 'correct' or 'wrong' spelling.

JooLoo · 07/10/2010 20:39

We went for Madeleine. I think it looks prettier. Though some people still pronounce it Mad - a - line.

withorwithoutyou · 07/10/2010 20:41

Madeleine.

It's my DD's middle name, but we spelt hers Madeline because it's her great grannies name and that was how hers was spelled. But I would have gone with Madeleine for sure otherwise.l

readywithwellies · 07/10/2010 23:10

Throwing a spanner in the works. Welsh name similar - Madlen.

badcoverversion · 11/10/2010 20:49

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Madeline-1939.jpg

Madeline for me. I love the books and prefer the pronunciation. The name has been around for hundreds of years so ignore the comments that it looks like a spelling mistake.

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