Madeleine?

[PickleSarnie]

So I made the mistake of telling people our possible names. If it turns out to be a girl, we really like Madeleine.

On telling a couple of friends this, their instant reaction was shock. As if we had just said we were going to call it 'Adolf' or 'Saddam' or something along those lines. They were "ooooh, you can't call it that, it'll just remind everyone of Madeleine McCann and that would be sad". Really?! Surely (a) It's not at the top of peoples memories these days, (b) people will eventually forget (sadly) and (c) why does it matter? I think it's a pretty name, her parents must have thought it was a pretty name and I'm sure they wouldn't have wanted the name to now be out of bounds?

Jack is one of the most popular names these days and Jack the Ripper was a serial killer. Madeleine McCann was just a innocent little girl that sadly went missing.

Are my friends being ridiculous or does everyone think the same way?

[pagwatch]

well I have a Madeleine and it is just her name. People very very rarely comment.She is almost exactly the same age as Madeleine McCann and at the time we had lots of comments and people looking into her eyes (FFS!)
But now I never give the association a thought.
And funnily enough the only people who ever mention the link these days are the ones who really want to talk about the case with that slightly glassy eyed look that walks somewhere between horror and joy..

[flopsy1974]

I agree. It's a lovley name and if you like it you should use it. I'm sure most names have got some negative issues attached to them at some point in their history. Stick with it I say.

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Your friends are being ridiculous.

My dd was born the day before MM went missing. We were torn between calling her Matilda or Madeleine and decided on the former. At the time, I was glad because the case was so high profile and it would have been the obvious association at the time. It is however a beautiful name and I wouldn't think twice about using it now.

[PickleSarnie]

Tillyscoutsmum, Matilda is actually our very close second choice! So it's a toss up between the two. Although, it may well turn out to be a boy - in which case I doubt either Madeleine or Matilda would be appropriate. Our boys name list is non-existant at the moment though.

Think I'm going to keep schtum on my names when people ask now. They're much less likely to comment after it's been done. At least to my face!

[ilovespinach]

Love ít!!!

On the very slim chance that I would have another child Madeleine would be at the top of my shortlist!

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

Love it. Anything else is superstition

[PuppyMonkey]

I have a 13 yo Madeleine and have never once had anyone mention Madeleine McCann to us. And like you say, so what if they did? Tis the best of names!

[5DollarShake]

It's a lovely name and definitely a lesson in why you should keep potential names to yourself!

[mathanxiety]

Go ahead and use it. It's a gorgeous name.

[FourEyesGood]

It's a lovely name and, as you said, people won't always associate it with a missing child (even if the Daily Mail keep reviving the story because they've run out of Diana stuff).

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

Beautiful name, in the top 5 for my DD1 5 years ago.

[hopalongdagger]

Lovely name, people are ridiculous to say you shouldn't use it.

[muminthemiddle]

Your friends are being ridiculous.

[KaraTrace]

I agree with everyone thinking that your friends are being silly. My DD was born 2 weeks after Madeleine went missing and that is my DD's middle name, for family reasons, but I think it is a fabulous name. It did feel weird at the time but she was on the news all the time, now not weird at all.

[Beachbreak]

Beautiful name, use it! And you are wise to keep schtum on the boys names. My DP told his mum ones we were thinking of using and she announced it to the whole family at christmas and apparantly it's his cousin's favourite boys name and she had a huge strop saying we couldn't use it! (Her wedding isn't until next year and they aren't even trying for a baby yet so her temper tantrum went down like a lead balloon!) Choose ones you like and don't tell anyone until afterwards, so much easier that way.

[VerityBrulee]

It's a lovely name, it's my mum's

However, she pronounces it mad-a-lane, while lots of people call her mad-a-lynn which she finds a bit irritating.

[TheCrackFox]

Lovely name, go for it.

[TabithaTwitchet]

It is a lovely name, but then I am biased .
I have had people say to me (several different people/occasions) things like "Ooh, make sure you don't lose her!) on hearing DD's name.
Crass at the best of times, but particularly upsetting when you are a hormonal new parent.
If anyone says anything now, I just shrug it off, and mentally pigeon-hole them as someone lacking basic social graces.

[trumpton]

I loved these books and always think of them when I hear the name Madeline www.amazon.co.uk/Madeline-Ludwig-Bemelmans/dp/1407110535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1276724637&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 r=1-1

[Again]

I like it and it makes me think of French buns!

[PickleSarnie]

Thanks all. Am going to stick to my guns.

We've been telling everyone that if it's a boy, we're going to be calling it either Gaylord, Lancelot or Kermit (or perhaps all three in a triple barrel combo). That way they can make judgements on ridiculous names instead of real ones (apologies to anyone calling their child Gaylord, Lancelot or Kermit!!)

[proudfoot]

Madeleine is a lovely classic name and I don't think Madeleine McMann has made it out of bounds - it's well known enough to just be a nice name in general and not only known for her IMO. I wouldn't take too much notice of these comments!

[RedCardinal]

Madeleine and Matilda are on our list too, maybe you should wait unti lyou see her little face and see which one suits