Alternatives to Madeline

Marceline

Feminization of Marcel, French

"little warrior"

Balancing femininity, vintage charm, and fantasy nerdiness, Marceline is one to watch. Marceline the Vampire Queen from the 2010-2018 animated TV series Adventure Time brought her elaborate French…

Madeleine

French variation of Magdalen

"woman from Magdala or high tower"

Sophisticated and sweet, delicate but substantial, Madeleine is the classic French variation of Magdalene. Once a Top 10 option in France, its popularity waned in the 70s, though it is slowly on the…

Clementine

French feminine version of Clement, Latin

"mild, merciful"

Clementine is a Nameberry favorite that broke back into the US Top 1000 in 2014 after more than half a century off the list. A female variation of the more-unusual Clement, Clementine's meaning…

Emmeline

Old French form of archaic German Amal

"work"

Emmeline is an Emma relative and Emily cousin that is destined for greater use in the wake of the megapopularity of those two names. A recommended Nameberry fave, Emmeline hopped onto the US Top 1000…

Aveline

French from German

"desired; or island, water"

Aveline is a name that's long been an obscure cousin of more widely-used choices, but may come into its own riding the tail of the megapopular Ava, which may derive from the same root. Although…

Fideline

French

"loyal"

A kind of French virtue name, an affectionate form of Fidele.

Madeleif

Madrigal

Latin

"song for unaccompanied voices"

Madrigal might be a pretty and highly distinctive choice for a child of a musical family--or for the parent looking for a less conventional path to the nickname Maddie than Madeline or Madison .…

Magdalene

Spelling variation of Magdalen

"woman from Magdala or high tower"

This name made famous in the New Testament has gone from crusty grandma to sleek and chic in recent years, or is it months? The name's image is perhaps helped by the fact that Mary Magdalene was one…

Maline

Maline is a delicate feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be a variant of Marlene or Madeline, or derive from Nordic languages where 'mal' relates to speech or agreement. In French…

Maybeline

Maybeline is a feminine name that appears to be a variation of Mabel or Maybelle, with the addition of the popular "-ine" suffix. The original name Mabel derives from the Latin "amabilis," meaning…

Ottoline

French and English, diminutive of Ottolie

"prospers in battle"

Curiously appealing, in a hoop-skirted, wasp-waisted way, Ottoline has recently entered the realm of modern possibility, especially since Sienna Miller chose it as the middle name of her daughter…

Pomeline

French, related to "apple"

"apple"

A rarely heard--even in France--name, most prominent as the third name of Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and granddaughter of Grace Kelly.