Madeline

Woman of Magdala.

Madeline is the English form of French Madeleine, in the name family of Magdalene. The underlying meaning is “woman of Magdala”, a place association connected with Mary Magdalene in the New Testament. It identifies a place of origin rather than a personal quality. English pronunciation offers a real choice: /ˈmæd.ə.lɪn/ sounds like MAD-uh-lin, /ˈmæd.lɪn/ is the more compressed MAD-lin, and /ˈmæd.ə.laɪn/ ends like line. The softer lin ending can feel understated, while line gives the name a broader finish. Both suit its flowing l and gently formal shape. For a family choosing this spelling, the preferred pronunciation is worth introducing clearly; the letters alone do not settle it.

Etymology: The English form of French Madeleine, ultimately from Magdalene, a designation meaning “of Magdala”.