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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.

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Ooooooooh · 24/03/2015 10:03

Stunning name. Even if some people initially think of Madeleine Mcann, they won't after a very short while of knowing your DD

binspin · 24/03/2015 09:48

An old house in Paris that was covered in vines.....

shakemysilliesout · 24/03/2015 09:42

French school girl

TheHappyCamper · 24/03/2015 07:51

I always post on these threads (and there have ben many!) because we have a Madeleine aged almost 6.

The only comments we have ever had, are what a beautiful name etc. We definitely don't think of MM - she is just herself- a new person with her own personality. Imagine if there were no more Madeleines in the world after MM? How about Holly, Jessica etc?

At school she mostly gets Maddie, at home she mostly gets Madeleine.

The only caveat I would put on it would be if your surname was at all similar to McCann e.g. Madeleine McClusky is much more likely to bring MM to mind than Madeleine Albright IYSWIM.

It really is a great name, solid and classic. Good for a child and an adult an we have absolutely no regrets about using it.

BabyNeedsChocolate · 24/03/2015 07:33

I honestly didn't think McCann before I clicked on the link - I thought of the Madeline books (and Madeline Bassett from Jeeves and Wooster). My second thought was the little cakes. Still think it is a lovely name.

GentlyBenevolent · 24/03/2015 07:02

Proust, Bagpuss and the swish of the curtain. In that order. I didn't think of the McCanns at all. Madeleine is a well known name, it will have loads of different associations for different people.

spideysenses · 24/03/2015 07:01

I had this dilemma with dd2 it was the only name dh and I could agree on . I asked real life friends at the time and only one mentioned the McCanns, now it's just our dd anyone thinks of now no association other than 'the naughty one' Wink

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 24/03/2015 06:55

I thought the french school girl from the cartoon children's programme (it's a book too isn't it?) and that I like Madeline but not Maddy as a nickname so much... also I went to school with a Maddy who nobody ever called Madeline, always Maddy...

I didn't think k if McCain til I opened the thread and am ssurprised so many people do. People don't instantly say Needham if the name Ben is suggested Confused

Marmite27 · 24/03/2015 06:49

Jelly Bean!

(The French school girls dog)

BernadetteMatthews · 24/03/2015 06:49

Tbh, I would have said it makes me think of poor Madeline McCann but I work with lots of children and the Madelines there don't remind me of her at all.

If you like it, use it. It is a beautiful name.

LillianGish · 24/03/2015 06:45

Proust or a little French schoolgirl. Gorgeous name.

Gemerama · 24/03/2015 06:40

This reply has been deleted

This poster has privacy concerns, so we've agreed to remove this now.

sosix · 23/03/2015 23:55

Mccann

neolara · 23/03/2015 23:53

... twelve little girls in two straight lines.

Original poster
sunnyawry · 23/03/2015 23:46

Good point mathanxiety.

Thanks for all your input, very helpful to get so many views. It does seem quite a split response, guess it's quite personal.

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DixieNormas · 23/03/2015 23:38

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mathanxiety · 23/03/2015 23:38

She was not afraid of mice.
She loved winter, snow, and ice.
To the tiger in the zoo
Madeline just said, "Pooh pooh!"
And nobody knew so well
How to frighten Miss Clavel...

It's the MN of one of my DDs and I love it. She was born before the McCann incident.

You have no guarantee that a name you choose won't turn out to be the name of the next famous missing child case.

Ooooooooh · 23/03/2015 23:35

Mandolin, a musical instrument secondly. However firstly I would think of a lovely gentle old lady I know

flancake · 23/03/2015 23:32

My lovely Godmother Madeleine, we call her Maddy, and the French cartoon character.

That's an honest answer from me.

Reekypear · 23/03/2015 23:31

McCann. Also it's overdone. Mandy's everywhere.

If you assosiate it with McCann, which you obviously do, hence thread, I would not go there.

BossWitch · 23/03/2015 23:31

Cake.

Once you've got used to her name meaning her (iyswim) you won't think mccan, and nor will anyone else after the first time they hear the name. It won't mean anything to your dd or her contemporaries as it will be far too long ago.

Vitamints · 23/03/2015 23:30

Cake. Then Proust no I've never read it. Then cake again. Then a woman I knew as a kid.

I didn't think McCann until I opened the thread.

Fairylea · 23/03/2015 23:29

Ah I had read the thread right ... I posted McCann and then thought you already had a daughter called madeline and were asking for boys names (disclaimer - I am very tired! ) it seemed horrid to say to someone with a dd already called madeline that I instantly think of madeline McCann... its such a shame. But now I realise you were asking for opinions on the name before choosing it. Unfortunately I think it's just so stuck with McCann in the media. It is a nice name itself though.

Original poster
sunnyawry · 23/03/2015 23:28

Fiddler, really sorry this has annoyed you I just needed to get some honest reactions. I'm sure it doesn't cross anyone's minds in relation to your daughter.

OP posts:
Velvetbee · 23/03/2015 23:27

My mum's lovely friend.
Beautiful name.