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'm a Madeline in my early thirties (and American if it matters) and I think that you are SERIOUSLY overthinking this.

[quote PattyPan]@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.[/quote]
That rings a bell but I'd never have remembered the name of the dating website!

Yes I suppose Irish people shorten names too but imo, less emphasis on nicknames that I see as a consideration on MN. I have taught for donkeys and I have found, usually, children tend to keep even their longer names. Thinking of my own friends, Louises, Elizabeths, Aislings, Catherines etc haven't tended to become Lou, Liz, Cathy and Ais the way they might have in the UK. Maybe my own demographic.

Thanks all. Good to get a full range of comments.

Re Evelyn - I love it but DH vetoed! This has been the only name he likes so far 😂 Madison is a bit American for my tastes.

@notmyyacht

I'm a Madeline in my early thirties (and American if it matters) and I think that you are SERIOUSLY overthinking this.

I reckon the Maddie mcCann story would have been much less of a big story outside of Europe tbf

I really thinks it's a beautiful and strong name OP. (Some) people may think it briefly but will move on, and you'll have chosen the name you love.

Absolutely the first thing I thought of. Still a very strong association with a murdered/abducted child for many people. Wouldn't be what I would want people to be thinking about and for a lot of people it will be.

It’s pronounced differently isn’t it? Made-line as opposites to made-lynn so it’s a different name.

Its a nice name but i wouldnt use it because of madeleine mccann. Im not even english, im irish, but the connection is immediate for me. Also, the investigation is a show on netflix for anybody too young to remember this 15 years ago. Its a name that makes me feel sad. My dd 3 weeks older than madeleine.

My mindset doesn't work like this. If you like that for a girls name,just use it...It makes no sense to connect it to another child..

The truth is it's a beautiful and well known name. Your daughter will be her own autonomous person, and people will not go through her whole life reminding her that a little girl who tragically went missing also had the same name.

If you love it, then go for it.

There were DDs called Madeleine before MM and plenty born after. The ones I know use Mads/Maddy most of the time. I don't associate the name with one person.

I wouldn't have made the association. But I know a couple of people with that so think of them first.

My granddaughter's name is Madeline and never thought of that.

You’re really overthinking this, it’s fine to use if you like it.

My friend is Madeline and I’ve never ever made the connection. I really wouldn’t let this put me off choosing a name I loved. Also most of the fictional Madeline’s are really cool so I don’t see how that would be a problem either.

Is fine. Enough time has passed that McCann isn’t the first association anymore.

Hadn’t heard of the second Madeline.

It’s a lovely name, I hope you use it. Maybe watch some of that “Do you know” bbc program to replace the association in your own head, that has a lovely host called Maddie.

I'm aware of the books but have not read them. Why would she be teased for having the same first name as a book character and same colour hair? Is the character awful or something? I think it's different if you name a child a name that only exists in a book (egCinderella) but if the book character has a previously-used name then what's the big deal. People don't tease brown haired boys called Harry about having the same name as Harry Potter.

@Thirtytimesround

Is fine. Enough time has passed that McCann isn’t the first association anymore.

Hadn’t heard of the second Madeline.

It’s a lovely name, I hope you use it. Maybe watch some of that “Do you know” bbc program to replace the association in your own head, that has a lovely host called Maddie.

Great tip - love that Maddy!

Every name has good and bad associations. Lovely name

@Tullig

Madeline sounds entirely different to Madeleine, though.

Yes, because it's spelled wrong.

A quick poll of the people in my house currently (2 adults, 2 teens) got the following reactions to "What's the first thing you think when you hear the name Madeleine".

1. There was a girl in my halls at Uni with that name. She was nice.
2. Maddie Hinch - greatest hockey goalkeeper of all time.
3. Dunno. Never heard of it.
4. Ooh, those yummy little cup cake things we get on holiday in France. I don't think the Madeleine McCann connection is as strong as it used to be. Sure, some people will think of it, but I doubt it's a connection that your DD's friends would be making as she grows up. It's a perfectly nice name that has probably been used millions of times before Madeleine McCann and millions of times since. If you like it, go for it.

I think you’re overthinking but I understand why.
I have a Meredith and did worry people would associate the name with Meredith Kercher, but honestly most people think of the princess in Brave and that wasn’t even her name!

@entropynow, there’s certainly a form of the name spelled Madeline and pronounced to rhyme with ‘pat the vine’. The heroine of the Madeline books’ name is spelled and pronounced that way. I don’t know, obviously, if that’s what the OP intended.

@Tullig I like the made-lynn pronunciation and the Madeline spelling. I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole on Google this afternoon where many sources say Madeline is Madelyn in U.K. (what I thought) and Made-line in some part of the US and that Madeleine is Made-leen not Lyn! Very confusing.