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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Madeleine or Alice? Help!

29 replies

crumpetsolo · 16/10/2010 08:02

Gah, DH has suddenly had a U-turn (2 weeks to go until due date) on Madeleine which I have always loved and he dismissed ages ago. I thought we were fixed on Alice, but now thinking maybe Madeleine is the one..

Which do you prefer? And what about middle names for Madeleine? Don't think we can have Madeleine Alice in case she marries a Mr Dennis and is MAD.

What about Madeleine Isobel..? AND, so many questions.. Can anyone think of nicknames for Madeleine that aren't Maddy?

OP posts:

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kiwijesta · 16/10/2010 08:39

I love Alice! Don't know of any Madeline nn's either (and can't help but picture a little French girl)

But if that's what you choose don't stress about her possible future last names, she might decide to keep her name, and Madeline Alice does sound nice.

cece · 16/10/2010 08:42

I prefer Alice to Madeleine. For the simple reason that I really dislike Maddie as a nn.

Madeleine Jane is nice though if you do go for it - just don't let anyone shorten it LOL

TheHappyCamper · 16/10/2010 08:51

We have a Madeleine (18m) and she gets Maddie about 50% of the time. I don't think you should choose it if you don't like Maddie as a nn as quite often people have just assumed and called her it! We do try to call her her full name lots to compensate! Her middle name is Grace btw.

I like Alice, not sure about where you live but seems quite popular here? What about Alice Madeleine?

FullaDoll · 16/10/2010 08:52

I think Madeleine is a really lovely name. It was my favourite name as I was growing up. However, I think this name will forever be associated with Madeleine McCann, and for this reason I would be disinclined to use it.

I would go for Alice.

frakkinstein · 16/10/2010 09:01

Alice in Wonderland is much better than Madeleine (the book).

So Alice for me!

Mrsmackie · 16/10/2010 09:01

We have an Alice (2 year old) and I don't know any other Alices of her age. It always gets lots of compliments and people always say what a timeless, classic name it is (which is why we chose it)
Madeleine is lovely but it is really popular and I think more trendy than Alice (which may not bother you)
Another reason we chose Alice is that it doesn't get shortened, whereas I think you would inevitably get people using 'Maddie' with Madeleine.

ValiumSkeleton · 16/10/2010 09:08

What about Edel or Ellen or Della (nns for Madeleine)

AngryPixie · 16/10/2010 09:17

I do love Alice, classic timeless etc but............ the devil on my shoulder does scream into my ear 'Alice, Alice, Who the fuck is Alice?" every time I hear it

Every Madeleine I know has become a Maddie, so only if you like that too,

PuppyMonkey · 16/10/2010 11:46

I have a nearly 14 yo Madeleine, but we like Maddie too. She has always been Maddie most days, and Madeleine when she's naughty. She calls herself Madz at the mo.

She's Madeleine Amber, so you might argue that she could end up being a MAD. But I think you're overestimating the importance of middle names tbh. I rarely use mine, do you use yours when you're addressed by initials? I would say 100% of the people I know (outside family) don't know my middle name. Besides, I'm bringing her up so a) she won't feel she needs to get married (me and DP aren't - 16 years together and counting) and b) if she does, she won't change her name to his - as why should she?

Don't really like Alice, sorry. Bit of a 70s name to my ear.

MunchMummy · 16/10/2010 11:49

We have a Madeleine and her nickname is Maddy. Which I like, but DH hates.

Her middle name is Thirza (don't ask, I hate it).

persephoneplum · 16/10/2010 11:57

I detest the nickname Maddie with the fire of a thousand suns. Alice by a landslide.

mysteryfairy · 16/10/2010 12:16

In the last year that there are published statistics for (2008) there were 352 baby Madeleines and 1283 baby Alices so I would take with a pinch of salt the assertion that the name Madeleine is more popular or trendy than the name Alice.

My daughter is called Madeleine which I love, but the following annoy me
it does get shortened to Maddy by lots of people, not at our instigation
people then ask if Maddy is short for Madison (which I really don't like as a name)
people shorten it to Mad (so at least no need to worry re initials - she might get that anyway)
my daughter is similar age and appearance to Madeleine McCann. Obviously like everyone found the whole saga distressing but we had the added joy of children at school taunting her about it (wouldn't have been our choice to share any detail of the story with a 4 year old) and nosy strangers checking she wasn't actually that Madeleine (as if we would have kept the name, hairstyle etc and wander around the UK if we had abducted her)

My DD has one of the default middle names derided on Mumsnet which although it suits her I do now regret. I think Madeleine is actually very easy to pick a middle name for as it flows with both long and short names.

Inertia · 16/10/2010 14:18

Madeleine, Alice and Isabel are all beautiful names, I Think any combination would work.

We have Madelaine, nn Lainey, but I know many people prefer to keep the traditional spelling. Have also heard of Lin as a nn.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 16/10/2010 14:19

Mrsmackie I have a 1yo Alice, and we shorten her name to Ali :o
(and lengthen it to Aligator, when she is being a grump)

Inertia · 16/10/2010 14:20

Actually prefer Isobel to Isabel but phone auto-corrected the spelling !

3thumbedwitch · 16/10/2010 14:21

Madeleine.
middle name: Louise, Louisa, Isobel (good choice), Elizabeth,

nn Madders, Lainey, Maddie.

LouMacca · 16/10/2010 14:33

Alice.

Like Madeleine but know sooooo many!

Ishtar2410 · 16/10/2010 14:35

I'm biassed - we have a Madeleine! Although she tends to be called Mads or Maddie. Not too bothered with the shortening to 'Maddie' as that was sort of the intention anyway.

Madeleine Louise sounds quite nice, though, as does Madeleine Elizabeth.

Secretwishescometrue · 16/10/2010 14:50

Love Lainey as a nickname for Madeleine but I do really like Alice so not much help here... Both beautiful names and best of luck for the next two weeks :)

rachel234 · 16/10/2010 15:42

Madders that is worse than Maddie imo.

AmelieMay · 16/10/2010 23:43

Both are lovely (infact stunning) but i 'm not keen on Maddy or Ali.

NoahAndTheWhale · 16/10/2010 23:55

We have an Alice but I think Madeleine is lovely :)

I would say that if you don't like Maddie you will probably find that people will automatically shorten her name. I have a Benjamin who is often shortened to Ben by others and I have generally got used to it now (although we always call him Benjamin).

People may well spell Madeleine in a way you don't want ie Madeline. But as a Katherine I am pretty used to mispellings now.

Original poster

crumpetsolo · 17/10/2010 08:56

Thanks all, will probably stick with Alice I think - Noah we have a Benjamin as well, obviously A & B go together nicely!

OP posts:

NoahAndTheWhale · 17/10/2010 13:15

I find Benjamin and Alice a lovely combination :)

Sunlightdances · 17/10/2010 14:04

Lainey for Madeleine is a good choice, but I far prefer Alice. :)

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