Madeline or Madeleine

[GoldenGirl89]

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!

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.

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?

I love your children’s names! I don’t think you can choose Madeleine or Madeline if you don’t like Maddie? I’d choose Matilda - it goes really nicely with Beatrice (Bea) and Eleanor (Nellie), and you like the nn’s better, plus no spelling / pronunciation issues…

Agree with the above that Madeleine does not feel like a very English name, in origin nor the way you want it pronounced, it's French. It's also incredibly unpopular in the UK at the moment, probably due to an unfortunate association, if that's what you mean by typically English.

Matilda very popular here. I think Maud is actually the English version, although has a very different feel.

I would pick Matilda if I was you, if you don't like the Maddy nickname which feels almost inevitable, and the spelling is going to confuse the pronunciation which will be annoying for her. Or alternatively Adeline which avoids the nickname issue?

No idea about which spelling.
But don’t chose a name where you hate the nickname. You are just setting yourself up to either be mildly upset all the time, or to be the weird mum who tries to insist everyone sticks to the long version all the time (which with a three syllable name is never going to happen).

My DD is Madeleine and she spells it the correct way imho - like the Paris Metro station and the cakes.

… and the Madeleine on place de la Madeleine which is one of my favourite churches!

The word Madeleine Is more beautiful.

Matty as a nn for either Matilda or Madeleine. Spell the latter the French way.

Love Madeleine. Such a beautiful name 🩷

Oh that’s cute!

If you plan to use nicknames (and do for your other DC), what nicknames would you use for Matilda/Madeleine/Madeline?

I think both names have roots in European countries other than England so wouldn't describe either as typically English.

Madeleine

Or Mattie ( so ie spelling) like in Ethan Frome?

It’s not much used for a girl in the UK but it’s cute.

I really like Madeleine. Just concerned about the McCann association. What do people think?

Well she was “ine” wasn’t she? And actually I think it’s nice her name keeps on being used by other little girls . Otherwise it will become eschewed and in the same bucket as Adolf or something and she doesn’t deserve that.

I just couldn't use Madeleine because of the MM association. It just makes me too sad. I'm sure lots of people wouldn't make that association, but I just do.

Interestingly, I like “Mattie” ..just not Maddie/Maddy (mostly because it’s SO overused here in the US). Could you use this spelling with madeleine you think? Otherwise, I actually like “Mads”.

For Matilda, I very much like Tilly/Tillie.

And while there is a large Madeleine McCann association in the UK, I’d say there’s virtually none here in the US.

I really like Mattie op: it has Edith Wharton vibes for me and is really fresh and unusual in the uk despite working as a diminutive for a classic name. I think you could use it with Madeleine.

Tilly is cute but there is a faint “posh but dim” vibe in the uk: “ Silly Tilly.” Also I know lots of puppies and kittens called Tilly. But Tilda is quite cool ( Tilda Swinton?)

why do people choose names such as Madeline/ Madeleine that will be spelt wrong throughout the poor childs entire life ?

Never been keen on the name Matilda.
I know a few pets that are Tilly and Matty sounds like it should be for Matthew / boys name.

Really like Madeline, though and Mads as a nn although theres loads of nn potential such as del, della, lainey, maddie etc

Matilda is quite an English name but I’d say Madeline is more French. Unfortunately the first thing I think of is Madeline McCann because it was such a high-profile case.

Madeleine is the only spelling I've encountered.

Madeleine is beautiful and should be spelt this way IMO.

I have a Madeleine - it's never shortened - and spelling is fine. It's pronounced Mad-i-Lynne

We aren't in the UK so the MM association never has been mentioned even though everyone here is aware of it.