[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries,
I welcomed a beautiful daughter in [name_f]September[/name_f] 2016. My husband and I had trouble choosing a name despite my extensive lists, but [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Claire[/name_f] were our two favorites throughout my pregnancy. [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] is a name I have adored since childhood. Growing up with the [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] books and shows cemented the pronunciation of Mad-uh-line for me as opposed to the traditional Mad-uh-[name_m]Len[/name_m] or popular Mad-uh-lyn pronunciations. [name_f]Claire[/name_f] was a more recent name that I grew fond of. [name_m]Just[/name_m] within the last couple years.
I discussed with my husband and close family the [name_f]Line[/name_f] vs [name_u]Lyn[/name_u] pronunciation for [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] and I strongly preferred [name_f]Line[/name_f] whereas my husband and other family members liked [name_f]Line[/name_f], but also liked [name_u]Lyn[/name_u] (maybe even preferred it). I always felt like [name_f]Madeline[/name_f]/[name_f]Madelyn[/name_f] were two different names like [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]/[name_f]Carolyn[/name_f].
We waited to name our girl until after she was born knowing we would probably go with [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] or [name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Madeline[/name_f]. At the time I felt like I liked the names equally. My husband preferred the way [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] flowed best. I wanted the Mad-uh-[name_f]Line[/name_f] pronunciation, so that is what we went with. We also chose the spelling based on how we phonetically wanted the name to read and sound.
I didn’t realize at the time that most people would pronounce her name Mad-uh-[name_u]Lyn[/name_u]. [name_m]Even[/name_m] after I introduce her as Mad-uh-[name_f]Line[/name_f] they will say her name as [name_u]Lyn[/name_u]. I never realized how deeply this would bother me. I feel like I have cursed my child with a name that will be forever pronounced differently from how I want it pronounced.
I went through some baby name regret and have often wished we named her [name_f]Claire[/name_f] which is more straightforward. It still bothers me. She is almost 8 months old and here I am posting…
My husband says people will learn her name the way we want it pronounced, but all I can think about is her graduating and them calling out Mad-uh-[name_u]Lyn[/name_u] instead of [name_f]Line[/name_f]. Or even just starting school I worry that her teachers will use the Mad-uh-[name_u]Lyn[/name_u] pronunciation.
Is it crazy to want our [name_f]Madeline[/name_f]'s name pronounced Mad-uh-[name_f]Line[/name_f]? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know of any [name_f]Madeline[/name_f]'s that go by the [name_f]Line[/name_f] pronunciation? Should I just give in and start calling her Mad-uh-[name_u]Lyn[/name_u]?
What’s a mom to do?
And if you read through this long post…Thank you!!!