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!

Could you use Madison instead? That way you could still call her Maddy.

I have school ages children and there are two Madeline (Maddie's) at school and I don't think it is weird they have used the name.

What is a bit weird is one of the Mum's is obsessed with the Madeleine McCann case and knows A LOT of facts and details.

Also I don't know of the book/film Madeline so I suspect quite a few others don't either.

@TrufflesAndToast

I adore the name Maddy but wouldn’t dream of using it because its association with MMC is just far too strong. It’s literally the first thing 99% of people think of when they hear the name.

It really isn't

Madeline is mad a LINE. Madeleine is mad a LYN

My daughter is named Holly. There was another high profile case with one of the girls involved having that name around the time she was born
We have never had adverse reaction to calling her that.
You’ve picked a beautiful name

@FinallyHere

My first thought was Proust , but then I'm a big fan of cakes

Moi aussi.

I actually have worse associations for Madison @Sunny987654 - Ashley Madison

@PattyPan

I actually have worse associations for Madison *@Sunny987654* - Ashley Madison

Never heard of Ashley Madison

I personally wouldn’t use the name, it is unusual but the connection will always be there and also double whammy the red issue, sorry.

There are hundreds of names to choose from.

@TrufflesAndToast

I adore the name Maddy but wouldn’t dream of using it because its association with MMC is just far too strong. It’s literally the first thing 99% of people think of when they hear the name.

It literally isn't. It may have been for people closely following the case 12-13 years ago.

Do you find the names Jessica or James similarly unusable?

People will be making you feel worse on here @Argealanlea. I can’t imagine anyone flinching away in horror when you introduce your lovely new baby, because a child was abducted 15 years ago.

Yes, it was super high profile, but so were the West murders and I know a little Fred and two little Roses, so were the Soham murders but I know two Hollys and a Jessie, so was Harold Shipman killing off patients but I know a new baby Harold!

To me it is illogical to can a name you adore because someone was killed with that name once, we could probably find atrocities linked to every name of everyone’s children on here.

And your baby will have the name in her own right, and her own little path and achievements will completely override any connection someone may have (if they even have it, I and lots of other posters haven’t when we’ve met new Madeleines) in relation to the McCann case.

And if someone persisted in linking your child to that because of her name, that is frankly their odd problem and I’d suggest removing them from your life.

@PragmaticWench

Sorry Madeleine is Mad-e-lane

Madelin is Mad-e-lynn

Madeline is Mad-e-line

If you can be arsed spending your life correcting everyone! It'll get pronounced Madelen even if you spell it Madeleine. My friend's M is 14 my friend is a language teacher. It's driven her to the point of giving up! It's been thoroughly anglicised!

I just think of cake

@FinallyHere

My first thought was Proust , but then I'm a big fan of cakes

I once had a book dedicated to me via a quiet reference to Proust, which was rather romantic and lovely

It's somewhat embarrassing that I really don't like the cakes I share a name with though

To all the people quoting me, you will see I realised straight after that people indeed do not think the same as me

I am quite surprised actually, maybe it’s my age or something but for me the name Madeline carries the association so much more strongly than the names of other victims. I think it’s pretty much the first time I heard the name used when I was very young and she went missing, maybe that’s it?

Anyway, I have admitted I am clearly wrong and that 99% of people do not indeed immediately think of her so I stand corrected!

I like the name very much. My best friend at school was called Madeline.

I am with you @TrufflesAndToast

@AryaStarkWolf it’s a dating website for people looking to have affairs. It was in the news a couple of years ago as they had a big data breach revealing users’ data.

I have a madeleine born only a few months after her disappearance. No one has ever really commented.

It's a lovely classic name. When I opened your thread I didn't think of the connection until I read it (and I have watched every documentary on it going), so really don't worry.

Her peers will have never heard of the connection, and adults should know better than to ever say 'oh like that murdered girl'.

@TrufflesAndToast

* SleepingStandingUp

TrufflesAndToast
I adore the name Maddy but wouldn’t dream of using it because its association with MMC is just far too strong. It’s literally the first thing 99% of people think of when they hear the name.
That's quite some hyperbole. Just read this thread. It literally isn't.*

As I very quickly realised in my follow up post

Yeah I didn't keep reading long enough sorry

I think it’s fine abs it’s a beautiful classic name. It’s not like naming your child JonBenet.

I think it's a lovely name but I do think the link is too strong with Madeleine McCann, even after all these years. However, I am in the UK so may be different in Ireland.

Definitely don't think anything of the cartoon Madeleine though, I don't think that's very well-known anymore.

I’m 29 years old and I don’t even feel old enough to remember the story properly, pretty sure by the time she’s older there won’t be an association at all. (The story was 15 years ago to be fair!) There’s just as much chance you’ll pick a completely different name and it’ll end up having some unexpected association - go with what you like OP :)

I know someone who has a Madelyn if you wanted to change the spelling.