Where did her nickname M originate from?

[Blue Skies 1,484]

Perhaps that is a stupid and obvious question.  

 

But it wasn't until I started reading fan forums I saw that nickname come up a bit.  

[androiduser 2,640]

it's just the shortest, most inoffensive nickname... and I think Madonna likes it too

[Kae-Leah Williamson 223]

My mom and I got into a habit of calling her "Mo" for short because my mom watched the Rosie O'Donnell show in the '90s and it stuck, but I don't see many fans or non-fans alike calling her that. It seems "M" and "Madge" are more common. 

[Adonna 18,159]

I'm sure it's been one of many "nicknames" she's had throughout her career, but I've seen early interviews with Stephen Bray who called her "M".   I'm sure it depends on the person, the crowd and their relationship with her.  I think most people who are really close to her call her "M".  I do think "Madge" might be accepted by more shady type "friends".

[Robertthenurse 3,062]

I think it comes from the first letter of her literal name 💁

[Pedro Beltran 5,063]

[Blue Jean 16,086]

2 hours ago, Robertthenurse said:

I think it comes from the first letter of her literal name 💁

I know right 

But I suspect Madonna gave herself this nickname and it stems back to her Emmy and the Emmys days. Perhaps she adopted it more  commonly later on with friends/colleagues because it hides her identity when people are talking about her?

[Roland Barthes 5,972]

It supposedly comes from the Fortins since this is how they called her mother who had the same name. Madonna is a strange name, very connoted and also a reminder of her mother for the family, her brothers and sisters call her Louise actually and that's how Mirwais calls her too (and how she was called while in Paris in 1979 though she had also chosen an artist nickname in case her career took off then : mademoiselle Bijou). 

[Robertthenurse 3,062]

5 hours ago, Roland Barthes said:

It supposedly comes from the Fortins since this is how they called her mother who had the same name. Madonna is a strange name, very connoted and also a reminder of her mother for the family, her brothers and sisters call her Louise actually and that's how Mirwais calls her too (and how she was called while in Paris in 1979 though she had also chosen an artist nickname in case her career took off then : mademoiselle Bijou). 

Ive literally worked with 2 Madonna’s in my life lol “Madonna you have a telephone call” “Madonna family wants to talk to you” “Madonna your patient needs a diaper change”

[Anapausis 6,140]

Well, she likes to be called by just "M" instead of "Madonna" by people around her. Her birth name always reminds her of Madonna Sr. I respect her position and that's why, on a Madonna forum, I refer to her mostly as "M" than "Madonna," it's a way to show I understand her decision to be called this way (and that I do share her sentiment about feeling this way).

"Louise," as Roland Barthes pointed out here, could also work as an alternate way to call her - but this doesn't make part of her stage name, so she's not known as a "Louise" rather than a "Madonna."

She was also identified herself as "Emmy" which is just a tender version of "M." (See "Emmy and the Emmies" - with "Emmies" being the ones who followed her in the band.)

[MCL_1993 1,994]

Her initial… no need for a whole thread about it..

[Pootz333 2,807]

Martha Graham

[Sultrysully 2,890]

On 10/27/2023 at 10:19 PM, Blue Jean said:

I know right 

But I suspect Madonna gave herself this nickname and it stems back to her Emmy and the Emmys days. Perhaps she adopted it more  commonly later on with friends/colleagues because it hides her identity when people are talking about her?

MDNA.... Here we go!