Would you point this out?

Bloody hell, well remembered OP. I couldn't have named either of those poor girls it was so long ago. But as a PP said, they will be more likely be "Jessica and Holly" which I don't think will trigger so many memories.

I agree with pps that Holly and Jessica is much more recognisable than Jessica and Holly due to how it was reported in the news.

I'm not sure if I would immediately make the connection if the girls are referred to as Jessica and Holly.
However I think it might be sensible to mention it to her - it was such a tragic and well known news story that I can't help but think that other parents with children of a similar age may comment at least if she is aware before she and her DH can make a conscious decision about it before Holly is born rather than potentially regret calling Holly Holly iyswim.

With regards to the Ian element that's an unfortunate coincidence given their choice of name for their girls but I wouldn't necessarily make the connection. For me it's hearing/seeing Holly and Jessica (in that order) that's brings it all back

I'd definitely make the connection, i'm not from soham and I'm 36.

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about if that helps.

There was a thread like this very recently. I think, though couldn't swear to it, that the general consensus was that it was not OK to have Holly and Jessica as a sibling pair, although I actually thought it was fine myself.

I agree with Mrs reader

I think it is much more noticeable if Holly been the eldest. All the news was "Holly and Jessica" rather than "Jessica and Holly".

Gosh. This is difficult, isn't it. I immediately thought of Soham. I think anyone who was over the age of ten then would remember it. The girls' names were repeated over and over again. It's a tabloid thing. I'd want to mention it, and I think someone probably should, but I'm not sure how I'd go about it.
Sorry, I've not been much help!

I think it won't be as noticeable if they are introduced as Jessica and Holly. If it was Holly and then new baby Jessica it would be more of an issue.

Oddly you are the second poster I've seen to raise this dilemma in the other case, the DSD was one of the names and she had been planning on calling her DD the other and felt she couldn't

It was only a few months ago.

I would say something if we were close I think but not if it was more of an acquaintance

I'd immediately think of Soham if someone introduced their DDs as Holly and Jessica

If it was just Holly and Jessica I maybe wouldn't mention it.. But the Ian part too would make me wanna say something.

And her mind doesn't work in a weird way! There has been another thread about this recently. Lots of people quickly make the connection. I did and I was 12 when it happened but it was very memorable. (I'm 28 now... Can't believe how long ago that was!)

I would make the connection, I live in the North, have no connection to the events and was quite young at the time and it is still my first thought on hearing the names together. If it was me I would be appreciative of being told.

I didn’t make the connection but if you have, and think others will, I would mention it.

I would mention it. Even if she’s too young to make the link, her daughters will encounter people throughout their lives who do make the link.

I remember reading about those ooor girls very well and I didn't make the connection. At first I thought your question was going to be"should I ask if they are naming their Daughter Holly as she will be born in the Xmas month".

My mum was going to name me as Holly as I'm born near Xmas, although she didn't in the end.

Personally I would not mention it to your friend. You don't want to taint the name they love and have chosen for their daughter or to give them second thoughts. Also those poor little girls were beautiful and they are the names of the victims, not the scumbags who harmed them.

I would make the connection, but I'm originally from Soham, and knew one of the families (lived in same street), and knew the other family in passing. The names Holly and Jessica will forever be linked in my mind.

However, even I still wouldn't say anything if your friend was one of my friends, because I would appreciate that not everyone has the local link to the events of 2002 that I have.

What does it matter though? They are just girls names. Does everyone steer clear of every single child that has died? Of course not. It's the same with Madeleine, a lot of posters say they wouldn't use it because of Madeleine McCann which imo is ridiculous.

It's just a name. If it was Myra then I could understand why someone wouldn't want want to use it but not the name of an innocent child.

I'd make the connection instantly & I would have to say something.

I would mention it.

I would say something, but tactfully, in case she hasn't realized. Having said that, as someone else said it was a long time ago so it wouldn't be a dealbreaker if she lives the names anyway. Also, it might depend where in the country you live, if you're in the same county it would be worse than if you're very far away, as it is probably in the consciousness and memories of locals more than anywhere else.

If they use Jessica not Jess/Jessie then I'd make the connection.

I would mention it.

I was in a same-but-different situation when a friend confided her name choice for her unborn ds - his initials spelt out BNP. I did say something, and she was pleased that i had pointed it out as it hadn’t registered with her at all, and she switched his name from Benjamin Noah to Noah Benjamin.

Is she quite young OP? I mean, from my vantage point of middle age, under 30? I'm just asking because the Soham murders happened in 2002, 16 years ago so may not have registered with her as strongly as someone like me who remembers all the news reports at the actual time etc. I think I would have to mention it tho, it was a massive story and lots of people will still have those associations with those names.

How do you know she hasn't made the connection and is sensible enough to know that it doesn't matter?

I would make the connection and I think I would mention it to her.

OMG, nooooo....do NOT say anything!!

Jeez, these are her precious children!! If she hasn’t thought of any nasty connotations, neither should any of her friends. How about people just leave nasty comments in their head.