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It's real all right, but pretty much unused since the Middle Ages. Drop the -g- from Magdalen and you get close to Madeline, OK? Drop the -e- so there are two syllables left, lengthen the -a- and you get Maudlin, which unfortunately gave rise to the English word 'maudlin', meaning tearfully sentimental for no good reason, like some people become when they're drunk. This, because in religious art Mary Magdalen used to be shown, as she is described in the New Testament, weeping in repentance for her sins all over Jesus's feet and drying them with her (no doubt very long) hair.

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So your friend's parents probably didn't know that, but did know that Maudlin, Maudlen etc was used in English long ago and decided to revive it. And tweaked the spellyng to make it more modern or something.