traditional girls' names
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traditional girls' names
| Tue, 02-06-2007 - 5:28pm |
I am torn between two girls names-- Elisabeth and Madeleine-- and have posted here numerous times with regard to mn options, etc. Here's the thing, I keep hearing from people that Madeleine is too popular and that I should go with Elisabeth, but when I check popularity rankings, Elizabeth is #12 and Madeline is #60 or something. I realize those aren't the spellings I prefer, but they are the ones you see more often these days and ultimately, when her Kindergarten teacher calls out "Elizabeth" it really only matters how many girls look up/respond. So, I guess my question is, do these boards skew our perceptions about popularity? Are the same names popular on these boards and in real life? Where does that leave me in my naming quandry?

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Overall, I'd have to say you're right -- Elisabeth is the more popular.
I think many may be seeing Madeleine and automatically assuming the nn Maddy, therefore lumping it in with Madison (which has been in the top ten for a decade). Elizabeth -- the more common spelling, again -- has hovered around the top ten for nearly 30 years now, and has been in the top 25 all but one year (when it was 26) since 1880! ;)
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So, I guess my question is, do these boards skew our perceptions about popularity?
I would say no, but I think that some of the posters' opinions on what is "popular" may be different from yours. Some people prefer out of the top 100 or even the top 1000 names. IMO #60 is unique enough to not have more than one in the class but common enough to be familiar.
Are the same names popular on these boards and in real life?
I don't think they are. I hear many names on boards that I NEVER hear IRL, and vice versa IRL I hear lots of names that are never brought up here.
Where does that leave me in my naming quandry?
You have 2 beautiful names. I love the spellings you have chosen, and you really can't go wrong either way. What about Madeleine Elisabeth? Might have a hard time fitting it on forms though.
Good luck and let us know what you choose!
Steph
Mama to Claire Elise
The boards may give people a skewed view of how popular some names are; I'm not sure. But you can always look up the rankings on the Social Security Administration's website - - there's no opinion factor there, just the facts, as it were.
At any rate, both of the names you are considering are lovely. Best wishes!
Consider this... Emily or Emma both top 10 names have very few spelling variations. Let's see, Emma, Emmah? Who knows? We never really see many alternate spellings. Take a name such as Hailey or Haley or Haylee or Hali or a number of other ways to spell it. Take those rankings and the pronounced name "Hailey" skyrockets up the popularity list. In fact, a few years ago when you added up all the spellings of Hailey, it ranked #2! So perhaps, Elisabeth or Elizabeth while it certainly is on the popular side only has a couple spellings ; skewing the popularity ratings. Just my opinion.
Good luck!
Kristi
What about combining them: Madeleine Elisabeth?
If it's a name you really like, go for it. Or find a nickname that might be different, instead of Maddie, what about deleine, Or Libby instead of Beth, or Elise or Liza...
In my niece's preschool class this year, there are 13 girls total. Only three aren't a Maddie (Madeleine/Madison) type name. The other three are Sophie (my niece), Maggie, Ellie.
The charts typically are about two years behind, like the Social Security one is for 2005. So by the time you name your daughter, all the girls names could be changed. It looks like names like Lilly, Ellie, and Addie are moving up and quick.
Madeleine cormes in so many spelling these they that even if that spelling is number
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I just thought it was funny you should say that, because I've always heard Madeleine pronounced ma-de-LEN, Madelyn as MAD-e-lyn and Madeline as ma-de-LINE (although I know this can also be -LEEN, but I rarely hear that one). Interesting. ;)
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I do think that there are times when names that are popular on the boards feel MUCH more popular than they are in real life. Maren, for example, comes up a lot here and I've noticed some people saying that it's a "popular" name. In reality, it barely made the top 1000 last year. Similarly, I remember a few years back on a different name board it seemed like every other woman had Tate on her boys list. People started talking negatively about it because it was "super popular" when in reality it was far from popular.
However, I don't think this is one of those cases. Madeleine (along with all its spelling variations) IS a popular name. Not as popular as Elizabeth, but still very popular. I think the difference is that Elizabeth has maintained the same level of popularity for so long -- it's been in the top 30 for every year that SSA has maintained records, in the top 10 more than 50% of the time. Madeline on the other hand -- while still a classic name -- cycles. In that same time period, Madeline has been up and down on the charts, as low as 722 and as high as 56. When a name varies that much, it FEELS more popular (because we are suddenly hearing it a lot more) than a name that we are used to hearing more frequently. When that classic cycling name has the misfortune of sharing a nickname (Maddie) with a trendy, new name (Madison), it feels even more popular.
Here are the numbers: Last year, there were 13,118 Elizabeth/Elisabeths and 10,689 Madeline/Madelyn/Madeleine/Madalyn/Madilyn/Madelynn/Madalynns born. So Elizabeth is still clearly the more popular choice. Madeline only FEELS more popular because of the way it rises and falls rather than staying steady.
If you plan to use a nickname, you should take that into account. As I (and others) mentioned earlier, the fact that Maddie is also a nickname for the uber-popular Madison makes it VERY popular. But some of Elizabeths nickname options (Ellie and Lily, for example) feel just as popular thanks to the fact that they too are shared by many full names.
Honestly, I think it's sort of a toss up. Elisabeth IS more popular, but Madeleine FEELS more popular. They are close enough that I don't think popularity should be a factor here. Go with the name you really love. If you really can't decide, let the middle name be the deciding factor. Or wait until you see her in the hospital and see if either just feels right.
Personally, I adore Madeleine and prefer it to Elisabeth hands down. Both are great names, but Madeleine just calls to me.
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