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I have the same problem you do; I know too many Madelines to use it as a first name, even though I like all of them. They all spell it that way and pronounce it MAD-eh-lin as well. I would honestly still *consider* it as a first name, but would probably try and find a first name for it. It's awesome and classy regardless.

I love it as both a first name and a middle name!

I prefer it pronounced with the -line ending. I also like Madeleine pronounced with the -lehn ending. I am not a big fan of the -lihn ending but it does make a nice middle name.

I agree, better in the middle.

I really like it.

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However, to me, the pronunciation for that spelling is MAD-el-ein. My friends name is Madelyn (MAD-el-inn) and it was purposefully spelled like that so it would be pronounced MAD-el-inn. I also am friends with a Madeline who pronunces it MAD-el-ein. To me, having the "e" at the end of Madeline makes me think the preceeding "i" is long, and thus MAD-el-ein.

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This aside, I do like the name very much, but I agree on its popularity so it would be a great middle name. Nothing comes to mind regarding first name options right now, though. :)

Personally, I have only met one Madeline, but it isn't very popular among my age group. I have seen Madeline in quite a few BAs, however.

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I think that it would be fine to use as a middle name. Popularity is much less of an issue when it comes to middle names. I don't care for the nickname Maddie, so using it as a middle name would eliminate that problem.

A distant branch on my family tree contains a Madeline May, born in the 1890s, who was always known as May. So even when it wasn't megapopular, it was sidelined in at least one case. I'm with you on the pronunciation, and also on the usage - there are just too many of them around.

I like Madeline, and it makes an awesome middle name. I pronounce it MAD-eh-linn too. One of my combos is Nora Madeline.