Madelyn

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A feminine given name derived from a variant of Magdalene, often used to identify a female individual and sometimes associated with qualities of elegance and kindness
2. A popular personal name for girls, originating as a variation of Magdalene, commonly used to designate a woman or girl and occasionally linked to traits of grace and warmth
3. A female first name variant rooted in Magdalene, typically employed to name a woman and sometimes connected with characteristics of charm and benevolence

Etymology: Madelyn is a modern given name formed by blending two older names. It is an alteration of Madeline, which is itself a form of Magdalene, the name taken from Mary Magdalene, the woman from Magdala in the New Testament. The spelling with "-lyn" is the newer ingredient: the ending "-lyn" is a variant of "-lin" and "-line" that has become common in American baby names, so the name reads as a fresh spelling of an old one rather than a separate word. The name's roots are therefore in a place name. "Magdala" was a town on the Sea of Galilee, and the epithet "Magdalene" simply meant "of Magdala." Over centuries, the name passed through Latin and medieval European languages, producing forms such as Madeline in English and French, before the "-lyn" spelling appeared.

Synonyms: madeline, madalyn, madeline