Madeline

Madeline is a feminine given name. It is an English form of the French name Madeleine, which itself derives from Magdalene. The spelling Madeline is common in English-speaking countries, while Madeleine variants are used in other contexts. The name is associated with Mary Magdalene from the Bible.

Literature: The name became widely known through the 1939 children's picture book Madeline, written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans. The story follows a fearless Parisian girl named Madeline who lives in a boarding school on the Left Bank with Miss Clavel and twelve other girls. The success of the first book led to a long-running series of sequels published through 1961 and further adaptations.

Media adaptations: Madeline has been adapted for television and film. A 1990s animated television series of the same name ran for multiple episodes, expanding the stories to television audiences with the same Paris setting and recurring characters. A 1998 live-action feature film, Madeline, offered a cinematic retelling of Bemelmans' character and themes for a wider audience.

Usage and reception: As a given name, Madeline has remained popular in many countries, with variations in spelling. The character Madeline remains a fixture in classic children's literature, and the name continues to appear in contemporary fiction and media.