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!

I love the name Madeline, and so wanted to call my second daughter it, but husband wasn't keen so she has a name we're both a bit meh about. She's an adult now, so there was no possible Mcann association, but I wouldn't think many people would make that connection. Its not spelt or pronounced the same way.

I pronounce it as mad-ell-enn

We have a teenage Madeline and it's pronounced Made- e - Lynn

I don't think there is a problem. Yes lots of people (older people, not her peers) might think of MM but it's a common name outside of that, so it's not a name that is thought of as just "hers". And I've never heard of the books/films.

My friend’s daughter is Madeleine. I’ve never even thought about the name connection with Madeleine McCann. It’s a lovely name. As for your red headed example. Never heard of her.

Initially, people will think McCann then it will just become your dd.

Sorry @Argealanlea but the whole Maddie MaCann thing would put me right off. One of my friends has a daughter called Madeline, and she has been asked REPEATEDLY over the past 14/15 years if her daughter is named after Madeline McCann. She was born SEVEN years before MM went missing FGS.

It's a hard no from me.

Madeleine McCann was one Madeleine out of millions. I wouldn't make the associatation at all. It was a long time ago now.

@HelloFrostyMorning

Sorry *@Argealanlea* but the whole Maddie MaCann thing would put me right off. One of my friends has a daughter called Madeline, and she has been asked REPEATEDLY over the past 14/15 years if her daughter is named after Madeline McCann. She was born SEVEN years before MM went missing FGS.

It's a hard no from me.

That might be so but I honestly don't think this will be as much of a thing going forward. This case was a long time ago now, it will only continue to fade from public consciousness.

I've taught a number of children called Madeline, Madeleine, Maddy and Maddie over recent years.

I don't even connect the name to MM anymore tbh and it has never been an issue with any of the children I know of in my experience.

I don't think the book link is an issue. They aren't over well known or over used books.

As others have argued, you could say the same about Sophie (Hook), Ben (Needham), Victoria (Clombie), Peter (Baby P), James (Bulger), Holly (Wells), Jessica (Chapman), Sarah (Payne), Millie / Amelia (Dowler) and, most recently, Arthur (Labinjo-Hughes).

All names sadly associated with beautiful, innocent children who have lost their lives/went missing/were abused/died in horrific circumstances.

Go to any primary school in the UK and you will probably find at least one child for each of the names above, if not more. And people don't ever say ' oh gosh, Holly, just like that poor Soham girl'. I doubt they'd ever say the same about a Madeleine/Madeline either.

If you love the name, use it (though definitely decide on your spelling/pronunciation first). Alternatively, what about Madison? Similar sound, no worries about connotation and you could still shorten to Maddie if you wanted.

@aSofaNearYou

That might be so but I honestly don't think this will be as much of a thing going forward. This case was a long time ago now, it will only continue to fade from public consciousness.

You might be right. It's still a hard NO from me. Because I believe some people WILL associate the name with MM.

I like the name! I live in the UK and didn't make the connection with Madeleine McCann at all. (And I would have pronounced it the same way as you.)

I prefer Madeline!

If you love the name then use it.

honestly, it's a lovely name. however, there are so many ways to spell it. Lifetime of hassle for your child. I have a name with many ways to spell (all sound the same) and NO ONE ever gets it right. EVER. A teacher once corrected how I'd spelt my own name on a jotter.
but Madeline/Madeleine are lovely.

The Irish spelling is Madailéin.
Hope this helps.

@FlyingPandas you say about all those other names, and yet it's only 'Madeline' that stands out in my mind as a name linked to a missing child. Maybe it's because of the humungous MASSIVE EPIC campaign her parents waged across the world. As were still doing over a decade later.

I am not the only one when it comes to the name Madeline being instantly linked to McCann, and the OP knows it, otherwise why did she start the thread?

I wouldn't even think about it if someone said they were calling their baby Madeleine. It's my aunt's middle name and I think it's lovely.

As soon as I hear the name I think of Madeleine McCann. Sad but true

I wouldn't us it for the simple reason that there is an ambiguity of spelling- it's a bother for kids and grown ups.

I have given my kids simple names like Peter and Angela ( not their real names but you get my point)

I've know a Madeleine (or Maddy as she is always called by everyone - so maybe consider that aspect too) for 13 odd years since she and my DC were babies. I had never made the connection between her and Madeleine Mcann.

I also had a girls name for DC2 that was associated with a famous fictional redhead. The baby turned was a boy (a ginger one at that!), but I'd have still used it if it had been a girl, even though I knew there was a possibility of it being considered a tiny bit funny by some people. Being a redhead seems to be much cooler these days than it was when I was at school (fortunately).

I think it's quite strange to not use what is a fairly common name because of poor Madeleine McCann. I know loads of young Maddie's and I've never even thought about it. If it was the name of a murderer rather than a victim I'd understand more (but only if unusual eg Adolf or Saddam) but people still use Fred (eg West). Madeleine is such a normal and lovely name.

Madeline is a popular name in the UK and not related to the book or the McCans, unless you have a Mc name.

I’m there was another post earlier this week about Madeleine in the baby names section if you want more opinions. The association with Madeleine McCann wouldn’t put me off, it’s still in moderate use though it did plummet in popularity after 2008 and hasn’t recovered.

I don’t think helpful to compare Madeleine as a name to Ben, or Peter or Victoria as Madeleine is far more linked to McCann as a first name than any other missing or dead child’s name. For whatever reasons, Madeleine McCann has had unprecedented (and unrepeated) media coverage and public interest. I don’t see that dying down in the near future, Netflix made an eight part documentary two years ago, any news about her at all is a huge story. That still wouldn’t put me off using the name if I loved it, but pretending that Madeleine is just like Ben as a name isn’t helpful.

I’d also pronounce Madeline differently, as in the book it should sound like vines and lines!

Nobody 'owns' a name. It's not as though you are friends of the McCanns (are you?) and anyway, if that were so, you could discuss it with them and phrase it about honouring their daughter etc. Plus, that was quite some time ago now and are we to avoid names of all missing/murdered children?

My late sister was called Madeline, there are cakes called Madeleines.

If you want to call your daughter Madeline, do it.