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Original poster

So tell me about Madeleine...

102 replies

GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/09/2011 12:34

I know there are threads on this already but I want up to date opinions please :)

So, being on the verge of throttling DH (who the hell decided it was a good idea to give men a say in what their children were called ffs? Wink), we are debating Madeleine.

We like the name a lot, it goes with middle and surname, neither of us think it has any bad associations. After all, you could rule out thousands of names if you took any notice of bad things that had happened to people.

But, I've mentioned it in passing to 3 or 4 people and every one of them has gone "ooh, not sure, reminds me of..."

They're mad aren't they? Most normal people won't think this, will they?

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Original poster
GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/09/2011 17:17

:o

Oh God I don't know

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PuppyMonkey · 19/09/2011 17:19

The people on this thread who get " sad" when they hear that name - so the fuck what? I get sad when hear another sodding Emily or Olivia. Wouldn't stop anyone else using it if they so pleased.

catsareevil · 19/09/2011 17:31

We still dont know what happened to Madeleine Mccann. It is likely that if it was discovered that there would be extensive media coverage again, so strengthening any association that people make with the name Madeleine and Madeleine Mccann.

MmeLindor. · 19/09/2011 18:10

I think that MN is probably the wrong place to ask this, tbh.

A lot of us have children around the age of Madeleine McCann, so her story is stuck in our minds.

Children born now are not going to have that memory, and as they grow older that will get less and less.

trixymalixy · 19/09/2011 18:15

My DD is Madeline, named after DH's gran.

DS was born just after she disappeared and he would have been Madeline if he had been a girl, thankfully we didn't have to make the decision whether to go with it or not.

DD was born 2.5 years after that and we felt enough time had passed.

Original poster
GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/09/2011 18:31

I get sad when hear another sodding Emily or Olivia.

:o Agree totally!

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Original poster
GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/09/2011 18:33

You might be right MmeLindor, but you're all so handy Wink

I change my mind on this every 5 minutes. Great, I like 3 names, DH hates 2 and the other is a minefield. Typical. Maybe I'll just call her Olivia... Wink

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Original poster
GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/09/2011 18:54

OK, MM went missing in 2007, I was pg with DD at the time so pretty sure that's right.

In 2007 there were 1132 registered including all variations of the name. The most common spelling Madeleine, was number 84.

In 2008 there were 608 (Madeleine 152)
In 2009 there were 732 (Madeleine 123)
In 2010 there were 744 (Madeleine 140)

I know I'm getting a bit anal now but it's this or go with a name I'm not keen on!

(2007 was the winner in terms of most variations of spelling. Fourteen!)

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brodanbell · 19/09/2011 18:57

I know an adult Madaleine and a child one too. Never once have I felt sad for them that they shared the same name as Madaleine McCann. It's a very pretty name, and I think you should use it. The thing is you cannot control peoples thoughts, so if you really don't want people to even fleetingly associate it with MM then you shouldn't use it, because it is clear that some people will. Some will keep their mouths shut, others will openly admit what they think. How much will this bother you?

notsofastmrbond · 19/09/2011 19:30

Just use it gwendoline, you both love it. It's not like you want to call her Adolph.

It's beautiful, go for it.

TheOriginalFAB · 19/09/2011 19:33

When I was pregnant a child was murdered who had the same name we had chosen for our child. 8 years later we never give it a thought and no one ever said a thing about it. If you relly love the name, use it.

Original poster
GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/09/2011 19:59

I feel like I've just had a kick up the arse :) You're right, mrbond and FAB. We love it, lots of other people use it. It's just a name. Hey ho.

Thank you all :) Madeleine is going top of the short joint list.

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TheHappyCamper · 19/09/2011 20:06

I am quite saddened and surprised to read that so many people on MN have such negative feelings about the name.

We have a Madeleine aged 2.5 and we have NEVER had anyone say anything but nice things in relation to her name. We had 100% decided she was going to be called that before she was born so didn't ASK anyone what they thought..we just introduced her as Madeleine.

In fact I was chatting to a friend over the summer about baby names and we got onto the MM subject. I said how sad it would be if there were never any more Madeleines in the world after her. She agreed and said it's such a beautiful name it would be a real shame.

I've also never had any odd looks in the street if I call her name (nor would I care!) but maybe because 4 years have passed?

Oh, and mine gets called Madeleine about 50% of the time and Maddie the other 50% (except this week as she's insisting on being called Princess Holly! Hmm)

I think you should go with a name that you and DH love and sod anyone else Smile

dearheart · 19/09/2011 20:25

If you told me your baby's name, I would smile and say 'ahh', but I would feel a pang for Madeleine McCann. I could never use this name myself.

Idreamofsunshine · 19/09/2011 20:42

it is a lovely name but I'm sorry the first thing I thought of was MM

trixymalixy · 19/09/2011 20:45

We haven't regretted for a second calling DD Madeline.

Flowerface · 20/09/2011 08:33

The other thing is, do you say Made-LANE or Made-LINE ?

greenzebra · 20/09/2011 08:57

Just came across this thread it didnt occur to me about Madeleine McCann. I know loads of Madeleines and not once have I thought of the name association.

I think its a lovely name so go for it, I know lots of Milly's aswell doesnt make me think of Milly Dowler and also know lots of Bens and it doesnt make me think of Ben Needham.

I thought this thread might have been about using the nn Mad! (which I dont think is bad either.)

notlettingthefearshow · 20/09/2011 09:25

I love the name Madeleine and would choose it myself if it went better with the surname. Especially love it because of Moonlighting!

I was really surprised that people still had a strong association. Sad case, but hardly the only child to have ever gone missing.

Go for it! I think people lose old associations as soon as you name your baby anyway.

sparkle12mar08 · 20/09/2011 09:53

I love it and think it's a truly beautiful name, but it is irrevocably linked to the sadness of Madelaine McCann's disappearance in most peoples minds. If you don't mind that she will crop up in most peoples thoughts, if only momentarily, when you introduce your daughter then absolutely go for it. Just accept the likelihood that that will be the case.

TabithaTwitchet · 20/09/2011 10:17

I have a beautiful DD Madeleine, it's a family name.

I have once had someone say something unbelievably crass about her name, when she was still a baby ("don't lose her like the one in Spain" [sic])

I mentally classified him as an insensitive prick.

Nobody else has ever said anything, in fact most of the comments have been of the positive, "what a beautiful name" variety.

birdofthenorth · 20/09/2011 10:53

My friend had a DD named Madeleine 6 months after MM went missing and I did have to conceal my surprise when she told me her name. Beautiful name, but yes, such sad associations. It would still be my immediate thought if I heard the name now, although I did read Kate McCann's heartbreaking "Madeleine" book earlier this year so it is still in the forefront of my mind. I think something about the story affected everyone and especially mothers very deeply; it became a national sadness not just a passing news feature. So yes, my first thought when you announce your DDs name would be "like McCann; sad" but thereaafter I'm sure your own DD would grow into the name, own it, and the association might not linger.

But yes, as someone above said, a new generation might make the name association if, God-willing, we find out what happened to the poor child at some stage.

Georgimama · 20/09/2011 10:57

The only names I wouldn't use due to association are Adolf and Myra (and even that is silly really, no one avoids the name Ian because of Ian Brady). If you like it, use it.

Teachermumof3 · 20/09/2011 11:24

As others have said-it's only got the connotations because it's much more unusual than Milly/Ben etc

Go for it if you like it :)

Original poster
GwendolineMaryLacey · 20/09/2011 11:45

I was thinking about this in the small hours and started to feel like it was a no go but thinking about it again while driving to work, out and about in the cold light of day, it seems silly to not use a name we love because something happeneded to one of the many hundreds of thousands of Madeleines around the world.

And actually, like Tabitha, I think if someone made a comment like that to me, I would think 'twat' and might even say it depending on how the hormones were performing! I spent 3 hours in the car this morning because of the bastard traffic and spent the entire time listening to debate about Milly Dowler. I'm pretty sure it hasn't influenced me regarding the couple of Millys I know. Don't think I've even thought of it and DH comes from where she lived, he knows the area that keeps being shown on the news like the back of his hand. Still doesn't ocur to either of us.

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