"Ooh, like Madeleine McCann!"

[MacVities]

My name is Madeleine. Known as Maddie. I'm a lot older than Madeleine McCann. Born long before Madeleine McCann.

But for years and years, she is mentioned to me so frequently upon people finding out my name. From drunk lads in night clubs grabbing me and shouting "we found her!!" When I tell them my name (even a few sober people have done this!) people again grabbing me and looking in my eyes to see if there's that mark, then laughing as if they are so hilarious and original. It was even mentioned by my sonographer at my 20 week scan remarking "oh Madeleine. Beautiful name. Like that missing child"

I had it again this morning when viewing a nursery to see if I wanted to register my child with them. They asked for our full details and said "ooh, surname isn't McCann, is it?"

Do people seriously think this is appropriate? The first few times I was a bit but I feel like it's been a decade of countless people making these comments and jokes thinking it's ok, or even remotely funny. I got really irritated by it this morning and DH said I'm being overly sensitive. AIBU?

Madeleine is a gorgeous name. If I didn’t hate the NN Maddie it’d certainly go on my considered list.
I agree drunk blokes you let it go over your head.
However a Nursery who are in charged of looking after children who will probably be around Madeleine’:s age at the time making jokes about her disappearance .
I wouldn’t be putting my child in there either

My sympathy - I have a name that sounds similar to a famous one (and not one you'd want to be associated with). I'm sick and tired of people referring to it. I find a deadpan face and a "yes quite" or an eye roll and "I'd never have thought of that" usually work.

What the actual fuck is wrong with people?! You are definitely not being unreasonable to be annoyed, I would be too!

That is so weird. I used to work with a Madeleine and I don't think it ever crossed my mind that she had the same name as Madeleine McCann.

LikeABucket

Imagine how my brother Adolf feels.

I actually went to school in the late 70s with an Adolf. He used to pronounce it Ay-dolf.

Got a lot less teasing than you might expect.
Afaik, of course.

I love the name Madeleine.
It's such a shame when things get associated with events like this to the point where people think twice about using a name just because of the circumstances surrounding another child with it.

In a different sort of way, a couple I knew had their wedding planned for 6th September 1997.
It was amazing how many people asked if they were going to cancel because it was Princess Diana's funeral that day.
Godsake!

That's awful, I have met several people with your name one recent years and haven't even thought thst. I certainly can't think why people would think it appropriate to say out loud!

Hi sweetheart
Please let go and smile to all these people who makes these comments.tell when with big smile that it is not ok. But how many people u going to say? All over world people know about this and silly me I might think same as well. We must be being silly . That’s all . If u feel hurt or angry,it’s ur feeling ,so please let go and smile to urself. If somebody say something to me it will my reaction to situations. Please be a big heart person as smile to urself and to all those who is making all these comments. That’s only way u feel better

I'm shocked (sober) adults would say anything. It must be really annoying but it's also such an unpleasant thing to be constantly reminded of.
After so much media exposure throughout the years the two words are completely linked in our minds and the MM alliteration makes it really memorable.
I personally found it hard to understand how people named their children Madeline after maddie McCann went missing as it's still the first thing I think of and I wouldn't want that to be peoples first thought at hearing my child name.

Very annoying indeed. Madeleine is a lovely name, my best friend at school was a Maddie. Yes it is poor taste to refer to Madeline McCann, poor little thing.

It's strange that because there have been other high profile cases of children going missing - Elizabeth Smart in America, for example, Ben Needham who disappeared in Greece - I doubt anyone makes connections with their names.

Madeline/Madeleine is a name more frequently found in the North, particularly amongst Catholics; Kate McCann came from Merseyside I think and she and Jerry are Catholic. I don't know where you live but if you are down South, it's not often you come across a Madeleine (I did work with one for a while in London, she was a Catholic), whereas there are loads of Elizabeths, Bens etc.

Next time anyone mentions Madeleine McCann in connection with your name, just say you think it is poor taste to say that.

I knew someone called Conan - imagine what people used to say to him.....

I'm astonished that people say this to you, especially in a professional setting!

I think I'd want to say " yes, I am she".

But maybe better would be just to look bemused and say 'gosh, how totally inappropriate'.

OP I completely believe you how often you get it.

My DD is called Madeleine & is just very slightly younger than Madeleine MCcann & we got it ALL the time when it first happened, I remember one lady asked me her name & just cringed when I told her.

Even now she gets it a lot at school & some boys actually call her Madeleine McCann & say they've found her!!!

This year, on holiday, there was a little girl of about 3 called it & I remarked to my Madeleine that it was the first child born after MM went missing that I'd heard called that name.

You may have guessed from my user name that my daughter is called Madeleine (she prefers Maddie) and not once did we even associate the name when we chose it. We just loved the name so much and I have never received a negative comment. In fact, most people mention how beautiful it is. We are down South and haven’t met another Madeleine here yet though I am sure there are plenty.

So sorry to hear that you have to deal with such complete and utter wankers. To even consider joking about something so horrendous as a missing child says a lot about a person.

Feel for you. My Dad had the full name of a high profile criminal and it was the bane of his life. He started to use his middle name instead. Some people are arses to put it mildly.

I would try to ignore the drunk people. The professional people really should know better though. Can you say something like 'wow, that's inappropriate' and watch them squirm. Call them out on it

YANBU. I can imagine it's very annoying. It's childish immature behavior. I'm really surprised by how many people seem to be doing this to you especially medical professionals at work - it's ridiculous. I would call them out for it

That's awful, I think I would respond with "I understand that's your association but it's not a nice thing for me to hear all the time".

Change your name to Shergar.

I don't think McCann, instead I think of a friend I had at school: long wavy mousey blond hair, very clever, funny, musical, adventurous, loyal, reliable, in short the sort of friend that is hard to find. Shame we didn't keep in touch really.

My DD is a Madeleine, or Maddie, born just after MM went missing

We'd already chosen the name and I did think twice about it. But we loved the name. I don't think anyone has ever said anything to her though - they never have to me.