Interchangeable Pronunciations

[solyma.livejournal.com]

A few days ago I made a post with some of my favorite names. Here is the link. One of the names was Madeline, with the ending pronounced "lin" and not "line". Several people voiced that because of the pronunciation, the name should be spelled Madelyn. Where I'm from, names that end in "line" are pronounced either way. I know several Caroline's that are pronounced "lin". I really like that spelling of Madeline, but prefer the "lin" pronunciation.

What do you all think of a name that has interchangeable pronunciations? For example, I have a sister named Leslie. We have always pronounced it "lez-lee" but others pronounce it "les-lee". My sister goes by either one and doesn't care which she is called. Alternatively, I have a friend named Leslie who very specifically only goes by "les-lee".

What do you think of a child named Madeline that goes by both pronunciations ("mad-uh-lyn" and "mad-uh-line")? Do you think having both pronunciations would be too confusing to the child? I know they're not as similar as the different ways to say Leslie, but I'm just curious what your thoughts on this are. Do you know anyone who goes by more than one pronunciation?

And I'm not pregnant, I just like names. :)

Comments

[tallc00lone.livejournal.com]

I honestly hate the way Madeline is spelled if she was going to be called Madelyn. Think about it this way: In Kindergarten when her class is learning to read/write, and they come across the word "Line," how do you think poor Madeline is going to pronounce it? Lyn.

Not only would it be easier to her if you spelled it Madelyn, but it would also be eaier to whomever is reading/writing her name.

[solyma.livejournal.com]

I understand what you're saying. I don't mind the spelling Madelyn, but I feel like Madeline is so much classier. And the first Madeline I met spelled it that way and it was pronounced "lin", so it just feels more natural to me that way. But, no worries, I'm not having kids anytime soon. :)

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Not really a convincing argument, given how many other words in English are confusing. The first time she sees any of: read, dead, lead, wound, bound, tough, cough, thorough, slough, through, wind, bind, or bow the jig is up.

You are learning to read for a tiny proportion of your life. The spelling of your name is with you a lot longer, and if it conforms to natural expectation (e.g. tradition, etymology) you have a lot less trouble in the long run.

That said, I'd probably spell it Madeleine and pronounce it the French way anyway. :)

[sotypical42483.livejournal.com]

But Madelyn isn't even a real spelling of the name. It's a trendy made-up way to throw a "y" in there.

[sarahrose.livejournal.com]

To me, Caroline is "line" and Carolyn is "lin."

Madeline and Madelyn are "lin" auromatically to me; I have to be told it's "line."

My middle name is Lesley (God, I hate that Y) and we've always said "lez-lee." I have never heard anyone I know say "less-lee." I hate the name anyway.

I think that if the kid doesn't care, it's fine. It's their name. I do, however, think that the two pronunciations of Madeline and Caroline are two different names (a total of four), but I think less-lee and lez-lee are one name; it depends.

My friend Cara is car-uh (like the vehicle) but EVERYONE says care-uh, and she has come to accept it, lol.

[solyma.livejournal.com]

Haha thank you so much for your comment! And I'm glad Madeline is automatically "lin" to you too... I'm not alone! :)

[sarahrose.livejournal.com]

:)

[arbus.livejournal.com]

my name is caroline. sounds like clothesline. not carolyn. i am aware that carolyn flows off the tongue easier than caroline does, for whatever reason, BUT ITS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NAME. i get called carolyn more often than caroline. it used to drive be bananas. it still does kind of, but i just kind of stew in it because theres no changing it, unfortunately.

[solyma.livejournal.com]

That has got to be frustrating! My name is Leah and I always get "Lee" and "Leia"... not exactly the same as your situation, but I understand your frustration.

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

I know someone named Madeline. She pronounces it like Madelyn. However, I always pronounce Caroline to rhyme with line. Carolyn rhymes with in.

I think I always pronounce Leslie as lez-lee, but I pronounce Wesley as wez-lee or wes-lee depending on my mood. I also have a friend named Meghan who is sometimes called may-gen (hard g sound). I've really always attributed the different pronunciations for the three names to regional dialects, though.

[solyma.livejournal.com]

I think you're right-- it may just be local dialects. Anyway, thanks for your comment! I'm glad there's another Madeline pronounced "lin" out there. :)

[xanya.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it's dialects too. In Australia, Leslie is always Lez-lee, and it's the same with Wesley. Watching Buffy/Angel taught me that you can pronounce it Wes-lee, but that still sounds extremely weird to my ears.

[mrsduryee.livejournal.com]

Except that here on the West Coast, where everything goes (*rolls eyes*), I know people with the same spelling pronounced both ways.

[turabiannights.livejournal.com]

I've always thought that Madeleine is pronounced "mad-uh-lin" and Madeline is pronounced "mad-uh-line." Caroline is pronounced "car-oh-line" and Carolyn is pronounced "car-oh-lin." Most people today can do the Caroline/Carolyn thing, but seem to have trouble with the Madeleine/Madeline thing - maybe that little E in there is too subtle? I feel Madalyn/Madelyn looks a bit downmarket.

[solyma.livejournal.com]

I feel Madalyn/Madelyn looks a bit downmarket.

Me too! Thanks for your comment.

[cathkitten.livejournal.com]

I say, spell it Madeline and pronounce it any damn way you please. At least it's not Khareays rhymes with "Paris" or something ridiculous like that.

[solyma.livejournal.com]

Hahaha thanks!!! :)

[itcouldbelove.livejournal.com]

I would say Madeline & Caroline with the "lyn" sound. That's how I've always heard it around these here parts. ;) And I agree, I like the spelling Madeline better than Madelyn and would/do pronounce them the same.

I say if you end up having a kid and name it this, you can call it what you please. ;) At least it's not like you're giving it some weird ass name, haha.

[rockstargrrrlie.livejournal.com]

I've always thought of it as "Mad-uh-line" because my first introduction to the name was the Madeline books and movies, where it's clearly pronounced that way to rhyme. :)

That being said, I agree with all the comments about Madelyn looking kind of downmarketed. It seems (to me) that the majority of girls being named Madeline/Madelyn/Madeleine are pronouncing it mad-uh-lyn anyhow, so I don't think it's a big deal to spell it Madeline and insist that it's really mad-uh-lyn.

For some odd reason, I always think of Madeleine as mad-uh-layne, and I'm not sure why. Is it ever pronounced that way even?

[mrsduryee.livejournal.com]

Don't think so...lol.

I like Madeleine spelling for MadeLINE.

[lostrocket.livejournal.com]

I think you go ahead and use "Madeline" as pronounced with the "lyn." Because it's really lame to make a stink about how it should be "line" when really it should be "LEEN." They're still not 'right' so GO AHEAD AND SAY IT HOW YOU WANT TO.

It's a lovely name any way you say it.

[sotypical42483.livejournal.com]

I think Madeline is fine for the -lin prn. I would NOT spell it Madelyn, that's a made-up spelling!!

[mrsduryee.livejournal.com]

I work with high school kids at my church, and we have a Caroline like clothesline and a Caroline like lyn. People mix them up all the time, or say the wrong pronunciation, but eventually they get it. Both girls just repeat their name until you get it. I have no idea if it bothers either one, but they don't have reading problems or social problems, lol.

That's a way it will be for little Madeline. People will say, "It's nice to meet you MadeLINE," and she will say, "It's pronounced Madelyn." And they will say, "oh! Ok! Madeline (pronounced correctly)."

I don't think it's a big deal at all. Go with the trad spelling. :)

[anapology.livejournal.com]

Madeleine :-) Mad-uh-lin.

[twoheadedboi.livejournal.com]

Yep the Madeline I know goes by Maddie, Made-LINE and Made-LIN. I don't think it matters...

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

I tend to say -line names as line no matter what.

As for Lezlie/Leslie, my ear really doesn't make the distinction very well. (As discovered when a friend of mine got really annoyed that I said Alyssa-beth for Elizabeth).

I think for the most part, a child should really only have one pronounciation to his name. And it should be spelled that way to aid others.

[dancing-crazy.livejournal.com]

She'll use whichever pronounciation you use, and it could very well be she won't care if people mispronounce her name, and that's fine. I've been correcting people on how to pronounce my name my whole life, and I'm not traumatized. A lot of times I just give up and let people say it however they want to. Personally I think Madelyn lookes a little made up and I prefer Madeline. I'd buy a mad-uh-lyn pronounciation for Madeline, too. It's a pretty name.

[lavandersparkle.livejournal.com]

I prefer MA-DELL-LYNN. I don't care about the spelling.