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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

I say Madeleine, you think...

136 replies

sunnyawry · 23/03/2015 22:50

Honest opinions needed.

She has a brother zach and a 3 syllable surname.

I don't know the sex but we seem to have a good few boys names we can agree on.

OP posts:
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Marcipex · 29/03/2015 22:59

I know several Madeleines, all beautiful, which seems to be a bonus.... All Madeleines turn out beautiful.
(Also a little cake.)
It would be my top choice for a girl.

crje · 29/03/2015 21:33

I love it
Since forever was going to be my girls name, but

I couldn't do it.
The McCann story is just too hard to forget.

My friends called their daughter Madison which is nice .

deste · 29/03/2015 21:27

Reading through this thread brought back memories. My DD was pencilled in for the part of Madeleine in the film and would have had to live in Paris for two months. Alas she was not chosen.

GreatAuntDinah · 29/03/2015 13:55

McCann, then Albright.

thegreylady · 29/03/2015 10:38

I think of my beautiful 12 year old granddaughter. It is a lovely name and our Maddy (12 in May) is a gorgeous person. Same name and birth month as MM but no one makes any connection between the names.
The name James isn't inevitably linked to James Bulger. The only negative name association I make is Myra.

wizzler · 28/03/2015 22:28

My DD is Madeleine, and she was born the same year Madeleine McCann went missing so I did get a few comments from old ladies in supermarkets at first. Now anyone who knows my Madeleine , associates the name with her. Havent had a single comment since the first year. Its a lovely name, classic and timeless. ( though my Madeleine would tell you that in those shops which sell names on keyrings, mugs and torches they rarely have Madeleine.. but this is possibly not your main concern!)

Namechanged101 · 27/03/2015 12:28

I though McCann instantly too I'm sure once people get to know your dd that would though?

IssyStark · 27/03/2015 12:26

I think Proust Grin

FunMitFlags · 27/03/2015 12:24

The little girl in the French picture books

Lovely name.

McCann wouldn't have occurred to me until reading the thread

maplebaconchips · 27/03/2015 12:13

Ill be honest and I also think "McCann", but it is a really pretty name. How about Adeline?

MsMittens · 27/03/2015 12:08

I also make the association with the McCanns - but this will pass and none of your DDs friends would have heard of the case, just their parents.

itsbetterthanabox · 27/03/2015 10:11

What about Madalaina?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 27/03/2015 10:11

My DD's friend is a Maddie, short for Madeleine, I have never once thought McCann. Both lovely names. I thought of Madeleine the ragdoll when I read your thread title.

MrsFlannel · 27/03/2015 10:09

I thought of Madeleine the little French girl in the books and cartoons.

CrispyFern · 27/03/2015 10:05

I thought of cakes first. That made me think of holidays and having breakfast on a balcony.

mathanxiety · 27/03/2015 02:40

I think highly of your Dad's taste, BigMouth.

wildpoppy · 26/03/2015 18:45

I know a Maddy and to start with thought McCann but now it's just her name.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 26/03/2015 18:35

I'm not even sure why the McCann connection is a negative one... The poor girl didn't do anything wrong!

bigmouthstrikesagain · 25/03/2015 11:34

My Madeleine was born pre-McCann. She is Maddy after Maddy Pryor one of my dad's fav singers - I love the name it is melodic and we use Maddy or Mads it suits dd and I have no regrets. Use a name you like op and don't stress about what anyone else thinks - I found second opinions about name choices were unhelpful and I did not ask for any with dc 2 and 3 after we had MIL diss our pfb's name [grrr]

So by that logic feel free to dismiss my opinion Wink

squoosh · 25/03/2015 11:23

The McCann connection wouldn't put me off at all if Madeleine was the name I loved. There have been many thousands of Madeleines in the past, there are thousands alive today. It's not a name steeped in tragedy for me.

If it was a unique name like Reeva for example, that would put me off though.

Fullpleatherjacket · 25/03/2015 11:20

Gorgeous name but for me too it conjures up the McCann connection first and foremost.

Box5883284322679964228 · 25/03/2015 11:16

Also babies own generation will probably know nothing about madeline McCann. My children who are older may have discussed it once but would have no recall of it or her name. My own generation have a multiple of reference points for the name Madeleine. At the end of the day you're DD will own/become her own name and other social references for the name will become less.

yumyumpoppycat · 25/03/2015 01:35

If you loved the name as much as your dh I would say go for it but you seem pretty hesitant, so maybe go back to the drawing board and find one which at least you love and your dh finds ok, rather than one he loves and you are unsure of?

HmmAnOxfordComma · 25/03/2015 01:28

Cakes and Proust.

Vitamints · 25/03/2015 01:20

There are a lot more Madeleines than Myras, though.

Its like you never see a baby Adolf, but nobody thinks of Stalin when introduced to baby Joseph. Godwin's Law, sorry.