Names like [name]Madeline[/name], [name]Jacqueline[/name], [name]Emmaline[/name], are [name]Rosaline[/name] some of my favorites, but I always run into a problem. I don’t know how to spell/pronounce them! For example, I prefer [name]Jacqueline[/name] ending with -lin, but [name]Emmaline[/name] ending with -line. I know that people get a lot of grief for trendy y spellings, but do you think it’s warranted in cases like this? The pronunciation of [name]Jacqueline[/name] can go both ways, but [name]Jacquelyn[/name] is pretty straight forward.
[name]Don[/name]'t forget -leen! These names all have the -leen ending, as well.
If it were me, I would just spell it the classic way and correct people when they do not pronounce it the way I want them to.
Depending on how much that would bug you, you could just drop the “e” at the end. I think people would pronounce [name]Jacquelin[/name] the way you want it pronounced if it were spelled that way. Not sure that’s really an improvement over the “y”, but it’s another option.
I too usually prefer the traditional spelling of a name, but in these cases, I agree with you that it would just be easier to make the -line a -lyn. I think [name]Madelyn[/name] looks just as legitimate as [name]Madeline[/name], to be honest, and I don’t have to think twice before saying “[name]Madelyn[/name]” aloud. If a friend of mine had a [name]Madeline[/name], [name]Rosaline[/name], etc, and told me how they want it pronounced, I would likely have to be reminded more than once, because all the pronunciations are so common that they blend together in my head. But I never once forgot how to say my cousin [name]Madelyn[/name]'s name.
I like [name]Evelyn[/name] & [name]Marilyn[/name] but the Ys usually aren’t my thing. As long as the I option doesn’t feel strange like [name]Eveline[/name] or Mariline I prefer to use it.
I hate the -lyn endings, like you said, they look trendy and they really take away from the name. I would use the -line spelling, use the pronunciation I choose and correct people, they will catch on. The huge majority of people will catch on very quickly.