AIBU - using the name Madeline

[Argealanlea]

First pregnancy and DH and I so far can only decide on one name for a girl - Madeline. We love it and it goes really well with our surname.

Issues are:
Madeline McCann. Is it too associated with her to use? We actually live in Ireland not U.K. so there is maybe less of an association but could still be there? For me already saying the name in my head with our surname lessens the connection so maybe it’ll be the same for all our family and friends?

Second issue - Madeline the books/movies which feature a red head Madeline. We actually have a 50% chance of having a red head. Would this be bad then to use the name and risk teasing or am I overthinking it and kids don’t read those books anymore anyway and the movie is old!

Cant decide if we’re being unreasonable to consider it - we both really like it!

[MadeleineForThisThread]

Apologies for the bold there, no emphasis intended - no idea what happened 🤔

[Argealanlea]

@MadeleineForThisThread @Alysskea Woukd you have chosen a simpler name if you could? Or do you not mind? We both love the name but if it subjects the child to a lifetime if misspelling!

If you look earlier in the thread you will see posters saying Madeleine is mad-e-lynn so it seems everyone had different ways of saying each spelling!

We like the simpler spelling of Madeline and the pronunciation of Mad-e-lynn. On the one hand I think we shouldn’t just pick and choose randomly - on th other hand a YouTube video I found of how to say Madeline was 90% mad-e-lynn and 10% mad-e-line.

So confusing!!!

[Argealanlea]

Sorry @MadeleineForThisThread I saw you said that was the French version and mad-e-lynn the anglicised version. We wouldn’t go with the French version as no French connections anywhere

[reddevil2811]

My daughter is Madeline and is the same age as Madeleine McCann. It has never once been mentioned to either her or myself. I think it would be even less likely to have a connection now.

[MadeleineForThisThread]

@Argealanlea It's a French name, the original French spelling is Madeleine & the French pronunciation is MadelEINE. Every other spelling & pronunciation is a modernised/Anglicised version.

I'm incorrectly called Mad-e-lyn regularly & it honestly doesn't bother me because I recognise that's the pronunciation that's become dominant in culture, regardless of whether it's correct or not. My French friends are far more irritated by it, as people can be if they hear a place name from where they grew up being incorrectly pronounced. I think Mad-e-lyn is a nice pronunciation even if it's wrong 😀

I wouldn't have chosen another name, I liked it as a child & now I love it. I'm called Maddy & Mads too & like those. I think someone earlier said they'd be worried it would be shortened to Mad - that's never happened, I suspect people would know it would be a bit silly so it doesn't happen. I'm not that far off my fifties now & I've never found another name I'd swap for.

Apparently when my working class northern English 19 year old parents named me in 1975 they were told it was too avant-garde & they should have called me Sarah or similar. When I phoned my mother to tell her I'd got my PhD & it was to be published she burst into tears & the first thing she said was: "All those people who told me I was silly calling you Madeleine, I always knew you'd need a special name." 🙂

[Classica]

When I phoned my mother to tell her I'd got my PhD & it was to be published she burst into tears & the first thing she said was: "All those people who told me I was silly calling you Madeleine, I always knew you'd need a special name."

Ah that's so lovely!

[Argealanlea]

@MadeleineForThisThread that’s so lovely🥰 I do feel like it’s a special name myself.

[Anothermother3]

It’s a lovely name and once it’s her name it will go with a whole new little person and people will associate her with her name. Go for it.

[Maddiehere]

It's a French name, the original French spelling is Madeleine & the French pronunciation is MadelEINE. Every other spelling & pronunciation is a modernised/Anglicised version.

The French pronounce the Madeline spelling Mad-Leen or Mad-eh-Leen.

When I phoned my mother to tell her I'd got my PhD & it was to be published she burst into tears & the first thing she said was: "All those people who told me I was silly calling you Madeleine, I always knew you'd need a special name."
That is such a lovely story ❤

[GizmoIsSoFluffy]

I have a 13 year old Madeleine. The film has never been an issue for her. McCann has been mentioned by a few children as she has grown up, as she much closer in age. But it's not a problem at all.

[Dexy007]

Interesting question OP. I thought 'McCann' as soon as I saw your thread but then realised one of our interns (age apx 21?) is Madeleine / Maddy, we have interacted, been for a run together, emailed and I've never once thought 'McCann'. I certainly never thought 'McCann' when I got the email saying 'please welcome Madeleine (Surname)'.

I think you're right that the association falls away if you hear the full name.