Am I definitely being stupid?

Two of my cousins are Rose and Myra. No one associates them with Rose West or Myra Hindley.

Rose no but I would definitely associate Myra with Myra Hindley. It was a never a particularly common name so there are few other well known associations with it. Lucy is much more common so it shouldn't be a problem long term.

I know little Ted’s, Rose’s, Fred’s and even a Levi (Bellfield wasn’t that long ago). As long as it’s a popular name like Lucy it will pass over! As I’ve said on these threads before, if you Google any baby name hard enough you’ll find a bad person with that name unless it’s really ridiculously rare like Marmaduke or Huckleberry.

@FF1 , Lucy Letby is always going to be "Lucy Letby" not Lucy.
Unless your surname is very similar to Letby, there almost certainly won't be an issue.

There are people calling their babies Jack, Peter, Rose etc and nobody thinks 'the Ripper', Sutcliffe or West, do they.

Speak to someone at your GP surgery. Going round in circles will make you ill.

I have a 21 year old Lucy. I've also known a number of Lucys. I wouldn't even think of Lucy Letby.

I'd say you are overthinking.

Turn it round: if you were introduced to someone called Peter do you think about the Yorkshire Ripper? Does hearing the names Jon and Robert make you think of Jamie Bulger?
is it different if you hear Peter Sutcliffe, Robert Thompson or Jon Venables?

The first name on its own doesn’t hold the same meaning at all.

It would be different if it was someone known by one name - Elvis, Adele, etc.

I know how it feels to overthink things OP, try to be kind to yourself. Read all the replies - everyone is saying the same thing - it's a lovely name & very popular which means that people won't make the association. If it was a really unusual name then I think it would be worth thinking about a change but not with such a popular name. In a few years time you won't even think about this even though it seems such a huge thing right now.

Oh its definitely hormones. In the first year of having my babies if anything came on TV with a child in any type of peril I just could not watch it at all. You are feeling super protective when you have a small baby, very sensitive. Of course this news story would really effect you. But do remember that altho im sure everyone thinks its horrific, people who do not currently have newborn babies probably aren't going to have the visceral reaction to it you are and think about it constantly... theres no reason for most people why 'Lucy' would be forever associated with this story.

When I think of the name Lucy, I think "what a lovely name". The awful person you mention doesn't even enter my head. I suppose it will for you, because it's your baby's name, but I don't think your baby will ever be associated with her. It's a beautiful name.

Do you think this way about other serial killers names? When you hear the name Harold do you think killer or king? If you aren’t thinking killer why would anyone else think that of someone called Lucy. You are massively over thinking this.

Lucy is a beautiful name. Its also in common usage and a traditional name. There are so many Lucy's out there. No one will remember the name Lucy and always think of Letby. Especially when your child is older and this is no longer in the news.
There's loads of boys called Peter arent there? No one immediately thinks of Peter Sutcliffe!! Because its a commonly used traditional name.

Honestly if someone I knew had a baby tomorrow and told me they'd called her Lucy, I wouldn't have even thought of LL.

You’re definitely overthinking it 😊 It won’t have crossed anyone else’s mind at all. There were people on here wanting to use the name Reeva once (which I think is beautiful) but obviously the instant connotation is with the murder case because it’s a very rare name. Its completely different with a popular name

Put on some classic I Love Lucy or The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball and see the best Lucy ever! Two of my cousins are Rose and Myra. No one associates them with Rose West or Myra Hindley.

Lucy has so many connotations other than Letby. It's fine (and I love the name)

There are loads of Lucy's everywhere. Honestly, don't give this another second of emotional energy.

It's a lovely name. I know lots of excellent adults called Lucy

That evil woman will soon just be referred to as Letby just like Hindley, Sutcliffe and other monsters. Enjoy your lovely baby with her beautiful name

@FF1 , there are thousands of Lucys in the UK. The nurse was just one. I don't think of my friend Lucy or my neighbour's daughter Lucy and think bad things.

Are you ok other than this concern about the name, and is there someone in real life you have spoken to about this?

It might be worth you having a chat with your GP or practice nurse about your going round in circles if you feel that our reassurances aren't enough, just in case you are focussing on the name is a symptom of something else.

It's a lovely name, but if it's not working for you and your beautiful baby, you can change it fairly easily.

Lucy is such a common name no one make that connection.

I definitely think it's ubiquitous enough to escape the connection. Everyone knows a different Lucy much better. It's a nice name.

Lucy is a really nice name and common enough that it won't be associated with LL. Like Rose West...no one associates the name Rose with her. But if you named your baby Myra, everyone would think Hindley. Really depends on the name .. Lucy is fine

Lucy is a gorgeous classic name. Yes Lucy Letsby's crimes are truly awful and will always be remembered but she will definitely never be most people's first thought upon hearing the name as I can guarantee you that everyone will know of other Lucys.

Whilst it may feel like it's everyone's first thought right now, while the news is very current, the media frenzy won't last forever.

Everyone who knows your Lucy will associate it with her. Far better to give your daughter a gorgeous classic rather than a faddy of the moment name which will forever date her (imo).