HONEST opinions please!

[Bananna1]

I'm 40+4 pregnant and we still don't have a boys name, which is driving my DH crazy!

He is absolutely in love with the name Hector - your thoughts please!

We have decided on a girl's name - Madeleine Claire - but then heard on the news today a story about Madeleine McCann, whose disappearance anniversary is next week. Would our little girl always be associated with her, or would the association blow over once the news stories this week are over?
I'm assuming our baby will be born in the next week!

I already have 3 DD and choosing a girl's name that works with the others has been a nightmare!

Thanks!

I quite like Hector. It's probably a Marmite name but I think it's cute and characterful.

Madeleine Claire is beautiful. I will, I'm afraid, always associate the name with Madeleine McCann, but that doesn't mean it should never be used again.

What's a Marmite name?

Oh dear re. Madeleine. That was my worry :( Bloody hell!

I like Hector, it will be a love it or hate it though.

To me Madeleine will always make me think of the McCann's, if it were me I would avoid it.

How about something like Matilda?

Love Hector!

Madeleine brings to mind the McCann child yes but then Hector brings to mind a puppet dog tv show from the 70s.

All names remind us of other people/things/events - doesn;t mean it's a bad thing or the name is jinxed or anything. if you love a name just use it!

Marmite name =half love it, half hate it (sorry!)

Hector makes me think of the Trojan hero.

It also means 'to bully' but I don't associate it with that.

How about using Marianne instead?

I adore Hector. Adore it. In fact, I am putting it on my list for my never-going-to-happen third boy. DH would hate it though, because he doesn't like Scottish names as we are not Scottish. That doesn't bother me at all. And anyway, it is a moot point as I am not having any more babies!

I know a load of Madeleines under 5-6, lots of people don't mind the name or think it only has one association very obviously.
I don't like Hector, sorry. Neil? Grant?

Hector is wonderful. (Also similar Hamish) Love it

I don't see a problem with Madeleine. Personally it doesn't only make me think of MM at all. It's very pretty. I think that association has run its course tbh.

So a yes to both!

Love Hector, like Madeleine but will always make me think of the mccanns.

Not keen on Madeleine personally, maybe that's because I have to work with one that I'm not keen on?

Love Hector!

Birdofthenorth - doh, of course that's what a Marmite name means! Baby brain!!

Snice - Can't have Marianne as we have too many names with Anna or variants of in the family.

Ragged - we've decided a two-syllable name sounds best with the surname, so no to Neil or Grant.

My DH has vetoed anything too popular (in the top 100 in fact!) so my love of Isaac is out :( I love Gabriel but he thinks kid would by called Gayboy.

But interesting that Hector has got a few positive responses, I have been quite anti it but keep coming back to it....

Arghhhhhhhh, it literally is doing my head in.

And thanks for your views re. Madeleine.

Yes, Madeleine reminds me of Madeleine McCann. I suspect I'm not the only one.

However, it is a lovely name and everyone will be able to pronounce it as a result of the extensive media coverage of her disappearance. As I understand, it's pronounced ma-deh-LEN/mad-LEN. If you're pronouncing it a bit differently, you could use Madeline or Madelyn (much prefer the former spelling) to avoid the association.

There was 926 Madisons in 2010, 734 Maddisons, 416 Madeleines, 224 Madelines, 157 Maddies, 27 Madelyns, 24 Madelaines, 23 Madalyns, 15 Maddys, 15 Madisyns, 9 Madalenas, 9 Madalines, 7 Madaleines, 7 Madysons, 6 Maddis, 5 Maddalenas, 4 Madelins, 4 Madelynns, and 4 Madis if you're looking for some alternatives. There were also 45 Magdalenas, 5 Magdas and 5 Magdalenes.

Was there a character in The History Boys called Hector? That's the association I'm getting. Not for me but I'd like it on a friend's baby, probably.

Love Hector. I don't like madeleine - I think there are so many lovely girls names and I think it is a little dated to be honest.....

But Hector is fab!

I think Madeleine is a beautiful name.

Not that keen on Hector though. If you think of it as a verb it isn't very positive. What about Hamish?

I love Hector - seems a very strong and noble name. I found picking boys names much much harder than girls - luckily we had a girl which made naming a bit easier. Gabriel was on my list too.
Madeleine is a pretty name, but the association with the McCanns will come up from time to time, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it.

Hector isn´t scottish, its originally a greek name (hero) and also very common in spain.

banana - gabriel is a great name - my son is gabriel, but as he is spanish we pronounce it to rhyme with daniel. Ignore DH and announce his name in the throes of labour - thats what I plan to do that for my next baby name which DH hates....so far...

I hear Madalin and I think of the cartoon and film from when I was younger, about a little french girl.
Lovely name.
Our DS has the initials OJ, and people still said "good job your surname isn't Simpson?!"
I think people will always link names to things that have been in the media, like Shannon and Victoria (both Child abuse cases ).
If you like it go for it.
As for Hector - not my cup of tea sorry.

Sorry E key faulty - Madaline

I absolutely love Hector - please do use it!

I don't really like Madeleine, sorry - agree that it is a bit dated.

I wasn't too keen on Hector until someone mentioned Neil so yes hector is good.
Not terribly keen on Madeleine.

The meaning of Hector (verb and noun form) would put me off, sorry. It means to bully, to torment i.e. a bully or tormentor. Not a nice association imo.

Also, what nickname would you call him - Heck? Not great either imo.

I do love Madeleine Claire, on the other hand. That is a beautiful, classic name!

Love Madeleine.

But really dislike Hector - the meaning, the lack of nice nicknames and the sound of it. Sorry.