History of Madeleine, Madeline, Madelyn?

Question

Get ready for me being defensive of my name...LOL....
So my best friend named Abby (Abigail) was complaining to me, "There are people who name their kids Abbagail! And Abbygail! And other awful spellings!"
I told her that's how I feel about the spelling Madelyn or Maddlyn....I always felt that its a cutesy modern spelling, even though I know it has been used for a while. Still, I really don't like the spelling and I feel it's not classic at all like Madeleine or Madeline. 
But she told me Madelyn is how my name is SUPPOSED to be spelled. What the heck. Apparently my parents named me wrong? I don't think so because I've met many other girls named Madeline with the same spelling as me and I've always been told it is something that can be pronounced two ways though my pronunciation (Mad-eh-lin) is more popular. 
I know about Madeline the book character, I loved her as a child and still now, but isn't she the one with the wrong name? If she's French shouldn't it be Madeleine with a different pronunciation? Where did the Mad-eh-LINE pronunciation arise? 
So basically I'm wondering if she's right, my parents gave me the wrong spelling. I don't think so and I hope not! What's the history of these names! 
And a final question: what is your favorite spelling?

? · Accepted Answer

Madeleine is the French spelling of the name. 
Madeline is believed to be the English spelling, although there are also thoughts/beliefs it comes from Arabic and translated into English. 

Both names come originally from the Magdalene as in Mary Magdalene, which is a Hebrew name.

Madeleine is said "Mad-uh-lyn" 

There is much debate over how Madeline should be said, depending on which country you're in, I believe it varies. In the UK it would be said Mad-uh-line, literally how its spelt. I don't know if that's the case everywhere, as some website say its "lyn" at the end, but as this is an English translation, I don't think that's correct. 

Madelyn is an American spelling, to my knowledge, it only seems to exist in the US, so no its not the "correct" spelling, (that would be Madeleine) and technically, yes your parents did spell it incorrectly. 

Madeleine.

xo379 · Answer

Madelyn is Greek, and means "Of Magdala," or "From Magdala."

Madeleine means the same thing, but in Hebrew. Madelyn means the same thing, in Greek.

Magdala is an ancient village by the ocean, in Israel, mentioned in the Bible. It is thought that Mary Magdalene (Jesus' follower, as referenced in the Bible) really means "Mary from Magdala" (though scholars aren't 100% sure--but it's likely)

So actually, Madeleine is the 'correct' spelling--in terms of origin, it is Hebrew, and would therefore be spelled the Hebrew way--Madeleine.

And FYI--Madeline is the Americanized version of Madeleine, which is French.

So...she is wrong and you are right!

History of Madeleine, Madeline, Madelyn?

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