Would it put you off a name if a high profile news case involving someone with the same name was in the news around the time your child was born?

There are lots of Josephs though. Names only become unusable due to bad associations if the name isn’t well used. I can think of ten Lucys I know from the top of my head, so the Letby association isn’t overwhelming. One of the advantages of a very popular name is that there are so many people with the name, that one notorious example won’t taint it.

It’s such a classic name I wouldn’t associate it with a particular person. If it was Lilybet for example, I might instantly think of Harry and Meghan but with Lucy I think you are fine.

Knew it would be lucy as soon as I read it however you will be fine honestly, I know so many lucy's I wouldn't associate any of them with the name

For me it would depend on how unusual the name is. Something like Ghislaine or Rolf would be a non-starter. But more common names can transcend any particular association.

I don't particularly see a problem with Lucy. It's a reasonably popular name with lots of other associations. Also, the Lucy Letby case will probably not be in the forefront of people's minds in ten or twenty years time.

I think that you'll be fine with Lucy.

My first associations with Lucy

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
then the actresses
Lucy Liu
Lucy Lawless
Lucy Hale

I think for Ghislaine, yes it is very unusual. I'd never heard it before, although now I have heard of another one.

I would also be careful about how it goes with the surname. For example, if your surname was Thatcher, would you choose Margaret. That sort of thing.

And also for sadder reasons, eg I came across a Jo Cox the other day. I'd not choose Jo if my surname was Cox as it would always bring back memories of the MP Jo Cox.

But I don't think eg Lucy itself is a problem as it is such a common name.

I’d only avoid Lucy if your surname is / sounds like Letby.

I think that Lucy’s a common enough name for people to have lots of other associations that’ll override the Letby association.

To answer your question, I had to look up Lucy Letsby. I think that will be fine, and people won’t associate the two. How many news stories do you know from the year you were born?

Leo was on my radar but then Tony Blair named his son Leo. Thought it would become really popular or people would think we were naming it after Tony Blair. So didn’t use it. It’s not popular and most people couldn’t babe Tony Blair youngest son.

Weirdly reading this thread I have realised how Teflon Ian is. Moors murders, Soham and Lostprophets were all committed by Ian's and yet no one flinches at that name.

That's obviously because it's a much more common name than Myra and therefore people have numerous other associations with that name.

No one became famous with my name, at the time of my birth, but did many years later.

It's a pain that whenever I say my name now, people automatically mention this person. If someone is meeting my husband with me at the same time, the person always raises an eyebrow or makes a comment.

When my father (he's the one who named me) heard about it he just shrugged and said, "It sucks to be you!"

The woman with my name cut off her husband's penis. Yeah, she ruined our name forevermore 🤦🏻‍♀️

I work for a company with offices in multiple other countries. A colleague called her daughter Myra, which is perfectly normal there, but jars every time I hear it. Weirdly reading this thread I have realised how Teflon Ian is. Moors murders, Soham and Lostprophets were all committed by Ian's and yet no one flinches at that name.

Lucy is a lovely name and you should definitely use it. We don't even know what the case verdict will be yet.

I don't think people would make the connection and even if they did, Letby would be at the back of their minds after a few months.

I have an Ada and wanted my second to be a Thomas (Tommy) but it was at the peak of Peaky Blinders fame so I went against it. I don't think anyone would automatically make that connection now?

I disagree, I think it will come back. Maybe not for a another while, but it will be back.

Looks like Myra might be shaking off the connotations...

https://names.darkgreener.com/#myra

There's a reason people don't name theit children Myra. Objectively I think Myra is a lovely name but it's forever ruined.

I don't make the association with Lucy at all. It's actually my DDs middle name and it's only reading this thread that I've even made that connection. I think if it was a news story about a child called Lucy I'd be more wary but not in this case.

Even if people do think of it now (which they probably won't), by the time your DD is old enough to know her name I don't think people are likely to make that association.

@Giltedged I think Lucy is fine. I don't think the Letsby connotation is that strong.

(... or Adolf...)

I suspect that there are still not many "Adolphs" around.

Maxwell was our number one name for boys, despite the connection to Ghislaine. The case was the top story at the time of my birth (we had a girl).

I remember thinking, in 10 years no one will have a clue who Ghislaine was.

I think you’re fine with Lucy. Our neighbours had a baby Lucy about six months ago, when the case was already in the news, and it never crossed my mind to link them - I have too many stronger associations with the name already. Also, when something awful happens to a child, they’re referred to in the press/by the public by their first names (“Find Maddie” “Holly and Jessica” etc) so it becomes more of a reflex to make that connection.
Nobody’s going to be referring to Lucy Letby as “Lucy”, however notorious she might become, so it won’t ever be anyone’s first thought.

Kylie Jenner named her first child Stormy, and then just a couple of weeks later, Stormy Daniels suddenly emerged into the public eye. That was rather unfortunate timing.

However Lucy isn't going to be associated with anything negative, as it's not distinctive enough, but is a lovely, classic name.

I wouldn't be worried about Lucy. It certainly wouldn't be the first thing I think of if someone mentioned the name.

NC for this, I guessed it might be Lucy! My little girl is called Lucy, named before the case, but when it came on TV I did think oh god! However, Lucy is a popular enough name with other people in the public eye called it as well (for example the TV historian Lucy Worsley who I love!). It’s a beautiful, classic name and if I had my DD now I would still use it 😊. No one has mentioned to me ‘oh she’s got the same name as that nurse!’ 🙈