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Baby names

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Original poster

Myra?

312 replies

theinterest · 11/10/2025 14:24

My DH and I thought we were settled on the name Myra for our baby due later this year, but having been settled on this for several months I’m not sure how others will view it? Neither of us are into crime type media, early 30s, and live in the south of England so somehow managed to miss the connection to Myra Hindley until now. My DH is still completely set on it, but I worry now what others will think (blame the hormones). Lyra isn’t an option for us due to a close friends baby being called that earlier this year.

I’m really after view in what you all think? I love the name but now doubting if it’s the right thing to use!

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Rexthesnail · 11/10/2025 17:07

Of course you can't. It'd be better to call a kid Fanny Chmelar than Myra.

LotusFlower24 · 11/10/2025 17:07

I have an acquaintance named Mayra (sounds like Myra)I know the Hindley story but never once has that come to my mind when spending time with her! I also know a Peter but never once have I thought of Peter Tobin the murderer..only thinking of it now as trying to think of similar examples. There's always going to be someone in the world with same name or similar to that of a criminal.

RafaFan · 11/10/2025 17:06

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 11/10/2025 16:16

I met someone the other day called Myra, she was probably mid 50's. I just immediately thought "what were your parents thinking?".

You don't have to be 'into' true crime to be aware of Myra Hindley surely? Can you imagine the nick names at school, her being laughed at, people wondering what you were thinking in calling your child after a serial killer?

Maybe Myra was the name of a beloved grandmother? The thing is, people make names their own. I also know a Myra in her 50s, and I don't immediately think of Hindley when she's mentioned.

Giggorata · 11/10/2025 17:06

I wouldn't saddle my child with a distinctive name with such an awful history.
The only equivalent I can think of is Adolf.

Seacatt · 11/10/2025 17:05

No.

BankfieldForever · 11/10/2025 17:05

No, definitely not.

If you really can’t use Lyra (although a close friend using it recently shouldn’t stop you) I’d call her Maria. Sounds similar to Myra, not difficult or unusual but not common either.

In fact I’d go a step further and call her Mary, but maybe fashion isn’t ready for that yet, although its an anagram of Myra so if you’re really attached to that name it could be your little secret.

idri · 11/10/2025 17:02

Oh, I was going to say yes 🤣. I’m clearly in the minority though so ignore me x

ChocolateCinderToffee · 11/10/2025 17:01

Mila?

TickyTacky · 11/10/2025 16:58

theinterest · 11/10/2025 14:43

I wasn’t expecting this thread to be quite so one sided :(

We're not one sided, we're just fully aware of a horrible and prolific killer. Definitely go with a different name.

lifeonmars100 · 11/10/2025 16:58

i've not tried it but I am pretty sure that if you typed "Myra" into Google the first thing to show would be an account of Hindley's crimes. I was very young when it all happened and knew nothing about it at the time but there have been books, documentaries and dramas about the horrific killings. like the Whitechapel murders, Peter Sutcliffe, Fred and Rose West, Harold Shipman, there are some cases so horrific they are embedded into history . Given that it is such an unusual name it was easy for it to become tainted by association

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 11/10/2025 16:58

Notellinganyone · 11/10/2025 16:35

Myra Hess? Bit niche. But agree - it would be a real burden to be stuck with Myra.

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Myra Hess would have been very well known to anyone in the UK old enough to have lived through WWII.

I'm not old enough but I've always known who Myra Hess was because my mother had records by her and I attempted (and failed) to play her transcription of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.

Poor Dame Myra ; Hess on it's own must have been a burden.

User6761 · 11/10/2025 16:56

BatchCookBabe · 11/10/2025 16:44

Morna?! I just think 'funeral.' Mila and Maya are nice though.

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Because Morna sounds like mourner in your accent? It doesn't in mine - it's a celtic name, I know a few Scottish Mornas and one Irish one. Maybe doesn't work in south England though.

JMSA · 11/10/2025 16:55

Oh God, no. Sorry, OP. But don’t associate your beautiful wee baby girl with her (not that you would mean to of course, but other people will!).

TheDayWeGotMinnie · 11/10/2025 16:54

Just no

DingDongJingle · 11/10/2025 16:53

Horserider5678 · 11/10/2025 16:52

Rubbish. I worked with a lovely lady called Myra and never thought of Myra Hindley! Do you think everyone associates the name Ruth with Ruth Ellis?

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No, because Ruth is an extremely common name. Myra isn’t. It wasn’t common back then, and it isn’t now.

Horserider5678 · 11/10/2025 16:52

KitchenDancefloor · 11/10/2025 14:25

No.
You may have missed the Myra Hindley connection, no one else will.

Rubbish. I worked with a lovely lady called Myra and never thought of Myra Hindley! Do you think everyone associates the name Ruth with Ruth Ellis?

DogsandFlowers · 11/10/2025 16:49

I just thought Hindley immediately

Westfacing · 11/10/2025 16:49

The problem is that Myra, unlike Rose as in Rose West, was an uncommon name at the time so there were very few Myra's to 'dilute' the impact of that name, and of course over the past 60 years very few people have chosen it for their daughters because of the obvious association.

Tryingmybest100 · 11/10/2025 16:47

Im early 40s, live on the south coast, have never been further north than Birmingham & I immediately thought of Myra Hindley. Im sorry but I think it will be a very long time before anyone hears that name & doesn't immediately think of her.

BatsInSummer · 11/10/2025 16:46

Not, not Myra. Sorry OP.

Meera
Marla
Mirren
Myla
Milla

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 11/10/2025 16:45

Literally first thing I thought was hindley

BatchCookBabe · 11/10/2025 16:44

User6761 · 11/10/2025 16:22

Mila, Mora, Mara, Morna, Maya, Myla

Lots of nice M names without the awful association.

Morna?! I just think 'funeral.' Mila and Maya are nice though.

wildfellhall · 11/10/2025 16:42

The name isn’t just to please you - it’s a gift or a burden for your child to carry for life. Make it clear and simple for them make it a gift, a kindness

wildfellhall · 11/10/2025 16:40

No no no no no no no no no to Myra.

Surely you wouldn’t wish that association on your child if only 5% of people had it?
Just no no no - I am certain you would regret it.

DiscoBob · 11/10/2025 16:38

I don't think it's a good idea. Can't you go for something less serial killer-y?

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