Why Maddie Briann?

She’s only just been born, but there’s already a buzz surrounding Jamie Lynn’s newborn daughter Maddie Briann.

Many have been questioning the naming choice by Jamie Lynn and her partner, Casey Aldridge, calling the “nickname” name “old-fashioned” and “strange.” Usmagazine.com has enlisted the help of baby name expert Pam Satran to give us the low-down on why Jamie Lynn and Casey chose that particular name, and just what it means.

“[Maddie Briann] is a surprising choice,” Satran said. “It’s cute but nearly old-fashioned at this point.”

Satran continued: “The nickname Maddie has been popular in its own right since the 1980s, when it was the name used by the character played by Cybill Shepherd in Moonlighting.”

The name Maddie is short for the French-oriented Madeline, which Satran says was a “top name” several years ago.

“Both Jamie and Maddie are ’80s-style nickname names,” Satran added. “Rather than mother and daughter, they sound like classmates – co-captains of the cheeleading squad!”

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Ashlee Simpson Changes Name

Pop star Ashlee Simpson is officially changing her name to ‘Wentz’ after her May 17 wedding to Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz.

The possibly preggers Simpson will no longer go by her family name, either in private or the public eye, as she feels it’s “right” to uphold the age-old tradition of changing names when entering into wedlock.

“I think that [changing your name is] something that a woman should do when they’re marrying a man,” she told People. “It’s a tradition that I think is a great tradition.”

In private, Ashlee will go by the name Ashlee Wentz, but will keep her maiden name, in the form of Simpson-Wentz, for all professional endeavours — something which new husband Pete Wentz is over the moon about.

“Oh man, I was like upgrade me! You know what I’m saying?” Pete said. “The Wentz family, our Christmas card just got upgraded!”

Wentz added: “It feels insane. It feels unreal.”

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