So tell me about Madeleine...

To me it's a name with very sad connotations -sorry. I know every name is probably connected with something tragic, but it's just that this particular tragedy has had such huge media attention that it's happened more than with other names in the past, imo.

I know it's not an 'unlucky' name, but the question was 'will most people think of MM with the name Madeleine' - and my answer is that yes, I do.

My dd is Madeleine and is almost exactly the same age as Madeleine McCann.

At the time of the posters and endless news coverage there was a period of out and out nutiness. I had twats people peering into her eyes in the early learning centre and we generally got peered at everytime I said her name. She once ran away from dh in the market and when he chased her calling her name there was nearly a police report gathering from the reaction of the people around.

But now it is never mentioned, never commented on except by, forgive me, quite stupid mawkish people. I suspect they are the kind of people who took photographs of themselves in front of the flowers laid after Diana died and read 'tragic life stories' book.

She gets shortened to Maddie by half a dozen people - we call her Madeleine, she calls herself Madeleine - it is only people who chose to over ride that that call her it. I think that is a bit rude tbh but equally I suspect when she is 12 she will suddenly decide it is cool. Then she will grow up and go back to her full name

It's lovely. We have a French surname and it sounds beautiful.

I hadn't even thought of Madeleine McCann when I saw the thread - was simply going to post that I love the name, it is pretty and elegant and belongs to a dear friend of mine - thereby having far happier associations.

I hope it isn't inappropriate to say that, though our generation may connect the name with the horrible story of MM, your daughter's most probably will not - hence you are not bestowing a negative name that DD will suffer with. Of course - it is up to you how you feel and whether the name has been spoilt for you - but FWIW it hasn't for me and I think it's lovely.

p.s. My mum's name is Diana and again, I don't associate it as tragic or sad - crikey we'd run out of names wouldn't we?

My sister has just named her new baby Rose,despite me unhelpfully reminding her about Fred West's wife-I'd go for it.

It's a nice name, she will make it her own.
Now you try Diana, THAT'S a tainted name...

I think no-one says the same about names like Holly, Jessica etc as we're know they're dead. With Maddy we don't know for certain and I think people will always hope that oneday she'll be found. I think it would be much harder having had a dd named Madeleine who was the same age as MM. Your DD will be 7/8yrs younger than MM so there should no association really.

I thought no one seriously would mention it in relation to Madeleines they come across in the street.

I should hope not.

Who exactly would, on being told the name of someone's new baby, think it appropriate to bring up a kidnapping case?

Unlucky name ffs, people are knob ends aren't they?

still, it means it'll never be a common name. So whatevers.

That's true mrbond
I wonder why?

Strange that people say that about that name. It's not like people have been put off using Millie, Holly and Jessica.

It's my favourite name, but I have heard 'Oh, it's unlucky now.' ffs
Madeleine McCann was unlucky, not her name.
I think a lot of people are, frankly, ridiculous. A tragedy may happen tomorrow to a child of any name; how can we tell?

Absolutely love it. One of my DD's has it as a middle name. The other DD is called Eloise, if you're into french names.

My Madeleine is 9.6 and, yes, all people associate the name with is Madeleine McCann. DD isn't remotely bothered by this though. We all hate the nickname Maddie. She prefers Mads. I am one of those mothers who insists on her full name at all times.

Madeleine is nice.

But Maddy = someone who is Mad. That is all I can think of when I hear MAD-ie, sorry.

I have a nearly 15 year old called Madeleine, known to all as Maddie. Maybe a bit different for us as we had her years before THAT Madeleine, but no-one has ever mentioned it to us in all these years. And if they did, so what? We like the name.

I named her in honour of Moonlighting btw.

I love the name. I must admit the first thing that comes into my mind is MM though. However, there are lots of names with associations, and once you meet the person it is their name, rather than any association. If that makes sense.

It's a name that makes me feel sad. Sorry.

We called 2yo DD3 Madeleine and I'm seriously wishing we hadn't (Madeleine McGann effect and "Maddie" which makes my teeth itch) Thinking of swapping her names over. I never expected people to keep banging on about Madeleine Mcgann. We always loved the name but have gone right off over the last 2 years.

I love the name. We were torn between Madeleine and Matilda for dd. We went with the latter and I am glad we did because she was born the day before MM went missing . I think at that time, it really would have been the only association people would have made with the name.

I personally think enough time has passed now - obviously people haven't forgotten but it is long enough for it not to be the automatic association (particularly after your dd is here iyswim ?)