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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Double standards?

37 replies

Smile19 · 15/02/2019 18:50

When I was pregnant with DS, I asked my great aunt for a list of girl names from the family (I was told he was a girl!)

Both DH and I loved Myra (believe it or not we didn't know about Hindley!) It became clear quickly this name is off the table.

I think it's sad such a beautiful name is unusable, yet infamous men in history don't have the same stigma (like Ted / Theodore).

Do you think Myra will ever be usable in the future?

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Emelene · 15/02/2019 19:24

Lyra is gorgeous if you like the sound. Smile

Original poster
Smile19 · 15/02/2019 19:18

Oh I'm so happy someone was brave enough to use it. Such a lovely name.

OP posts:
Baby2namehelp · 15/02/2019 19:16

I know a wee baby Myra. You could also spell it Mira.

grincheux · 15/02/2019 19:12

Scraping the barrel I also thought of Myra McQueen from Hollyoaks. It's a shame because the name itself is pretty. I went to school with a girl called Maira - pronounced Myra - and I must admit I never thought of it as being associated with "Myra" or anyone called that IYKWIM.

Threenanger · 15/02/2019 19:02

I’ll be honest but I’ve bever heard of Myra hindley...so I wouldn’t make the association. Possibly future generations won’t make the association. But unfortunately some rarer names are tainted by famous people.
Eg. I love Camilla but it conjures up Parker-Bowles image and has become unusable.
As does the name Diana and her unfortunate death.

Some names are associated with famous people but don’t have negative connotations eg the name Mila and Mila kunis (she’s an ok actress)

Or Lara has been mentioned on other threads recently, and associated with Dr Zhivago or Lara Croft heroines (good associations)....

Original poster
Smile19 · 15/02/2019 19:00

Lol - I know Livid! We knew about it but didn't latch on to the name(!)

OP posts:
Cosmoa · 15/02/2019 18:59

Yeah it's definitely more to do with the fact that Myra Hindley was the most famous Myra of all.

Original poster
Smile19 · 15/02/2019 18:58

Very true.

OP posts:
Livid21 · 15/02/2019 18:58

Two fully grown adults who haven't heard of Myra Hindley?

Are you serious?

SavoyCabbage · 15/02/2019 18:58

It’s not because she’s a woman, it’s because it was already an unusual name so it became synonymous with Hindley. It didn’t happen with Mary Bell for example.

I met a child Myra when I lived in Australia.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 15/02/2019 18:54

I’m not sure that “infamous men” aren’t subjected to the same treatment. Can’t imagine many little Adolfs running around.

I suspect it has more to do with how unusual the name is and who it’s linked to. There are lots of little Freds despite Fred West... but Fred isn’t that unusual a name full stop.

FenellaMaxwell · 15/02/2019 18:53

It’s not really comparable though - when you say Theodore/Ted, people think Theodore Roosevelt not Ted Bundy. Myra Hindley is by far the best known use of that name.