Male singer popular with English girl (9)

I believe the answer is:

madeleine

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'girl' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'male singer popular with english' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'singer' becomes 'adele' (Adele is a singer).
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'm'+'adele'+'in'+'e'='MADELEINE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for madeleine that I've seen before include "Item on sweet menu" , "Woman" , "Small sponge cake" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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