The -line is a tale as old as time. From Caroline to Madeline, parents worldwide spanning many generations are enthralled by this dainty and feminine sound, whether they pronounce it as spelled or as the more current -lynn or vintage and slightly British -leen. Either way, the -line sound can be classic and versatile or trendy and fashionable, a sound that will forever endure yet still blend in with trendy classmates like Adalynn and Ashlynn. Since parents are often in complete adoration with girl names ending in -line, which normally have a more classic and refined feel than -lynn, I decided to cover some of the favorites in an article. I hope you enjoy, and let’s get this going!
Madeline- In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines... the smallest one was Madeline. Does that surface any nostalgia from the many books in the Madeline series? Sure does for me! An elegant and sophisticated name with a French flair and the hot 2000s nickname Maddie, Madeline is the most classic of the Maddie craze. Next came variants like Madelyn, Madilyn, and even the surname style presidential name Madison, which really seemed cool and current for a while. And though the Maddie craze has died down some to make some room for Addie (Adeline, Adalyn, Adilyn, and Addison), Madeline is still a fairly traditional and timeless choice with a cute and peppy nickname at #97.
Jacqueline- Even though the hard sounds of Jaqueline are far past her prime, the name still offers a lovely honor name or an alternative to the incredibly trendy Josephine, which is flying up those charts at the minute. With Jackie sort of out of the loop right now, Jax would be a trendy and cool nickname idea to consider that fits in with the modern day name scene a little better. At #382, Jacqueline hasn’t completely gone rogue quite yet. In fact, even though she peaked in 1961, a thoroughly out-of-date moniker, her -lynn and Jack sounds have been the object of many parents that are choosing Jack, Jaxon, and Jackson for their son's and Kaylyn, Evelyn, and Raelynn for their daughter’s admiration. So why can’t a cool boy name sound with the always red-hot-trendy -lynn sound slapped on the back yet with roots and deep history flourish? This French name meaning “supplanter” will surely soar when it’s her time for revival.
Rosaline- Sure, Rosalind has vintage-y charm and the classic Rose sound. But a -d ending for many people isn’t as visually appealing as, say, an -a or an -e. Rosaline delivers the appealing sound and vibe of Rosalind without the -d ending that doesn’t blend well into trends today. Pronounced Rose-uh-leen or Roz-uh-lynn, this name could be the next big thing, combining our favorite sounds with a dose of vintage magic served up alongside her. Despite her failure to rank in the top 1000 worldwide, Rosaline claims heritage in several Shakespearean poems, and could have a resurgence when some celebaby thrusts her into parent’s minds.
Avaline- The glamorous old-Hollywood Ava meets a contemporary -line ending to result in Avaline. She barely scraped by at #6407, an unsuccessful attempt at leaping on the trend train of her sister names Ava and Avalynn, but still proves to be a way to lengthen your favorite name and sprinkle some -line magic in there. With Adeline practically exploding with alternative spellings and spin-offs, it’s a wonder that Avaline hasn’t caught on quite yet, especially with the addition of that beloved middle V. The only issue I have with this name? It’s invented...
Ottoline- With Ottilie blowing up forums with her woodsy charm, O beginning, and cutesy cool -illie sound, Ottoline might be a rare alternative name to consider. Given to less than 5 children in 2019, she’s as rare as it gets, yet carries the adorable nickname Tillie and has an O initial. What a steal! Ottilie received 25 little namesakes last year, just for reference, so Ottoline is startlingly uncommon. As far as I know, this name is solely pronounced Otta-line, but it’s so rare that parents may have other ideas of how it’s best pronounced. A feminine elaboration on Otto, Ottoline is a German name that means “prospers in battle,” a meaning of power and leadership for a little girl.
Celine- An example of the -line translating to a -leen pronunciation intuitively, Celine is most famous for being the appellation of singer Celine Dion. Celine sounds just as French as she is, delicate and regal, the picture of sophistication. She’s actually a derivative of Celeste, and feels just as dainty and ethereal, but with a bit of a stronger vibe. And because she’s a sister name to Celeste, she shares the same lovely meaning: heavenly. Although Celine seems like an alternative spelling to Selene, they actually come from very different roots, but Celine is doubly popular at #490. Nevertheless, don’t be surprised if the name is sometimes misspelled, but Celine is still an elegant, regal, and strikingly beautiful name for a child of any age or personality to bear.
Maybelline- Whether you’ve been inspired by the cosmetics brand or the name of Taylor Hanson’s 7th child (Maybellene Alma Joy *swoon*), Maybelline is positively stunning. An American elaboration of Mabel, a simple understated vintage beauty, Maybelline could really soar in popularity from the 18 little girls that got this name last year. With the cheery and bright sounds of May working in her favor alongside the Belle sound that was all the rage a few years ago with an elegant and refined -leen sound at the end, Maybelline’s sounds are all ready to make her a 21st century smash. An English name with the wonderful meaning of “lovable,” Maybelline has raging potential that I hope will be put to good use in years to come.
Emmeline- Emma’s vintage gleam has dulled as millions of 21st century girls become the bearers of the name. So what better to do to restore the once old-timey glimmer of Emma then to reinvent her with a -leen ending that brings back the retro shine of Emma? Emily and Emma are both starting to descend, so is Emmeline the next one up to the plate to become the next #1 Em- name? I doubt it. But I do think that Emmeline will continue to mount the charts from her current position of #767, though she doesn’t seem to be moving fast enough to claim a spot even near the top 10, likely thanks to Emmalyn, Emmaline, Emmaleen, Emmajean, etc. being given to children instead. My favorite pronunciation of this German name meaning “work,” is Emma-line, but others include the sweet Emma-leen and the cool Emma-lynn.
I hope you indulged in some sweet -line combos, rethought some names you had passed by, or even just enjoyed this article. I’d love to see you again at the Name Warehouse, but goodbye for now!
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Which of these names is your favorite? Let me know down below along with some other name sounds you’d like to see in a list!
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