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Baby names

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

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!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MummyNeedsCoffee1 · 11/10/2025 16:36

I’m early 40s, not even born in the UK and even I think Hindley. Fascinating when I think about it.

Notellinganyone · 11/10/2025 16:35

cathyj77 · 11/10/2025 14:27

No, definitely not. It's an unusual name with only one (terrible) famous association.

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

Thissickbeat · 11/10/2025 16:35

No. I'm 50 and a southerner so the Moors Murders werea decade before my time and never touched my family. You still don't call a baby Myra.

May as well call her brother Adolf.

gmgnts · 11/10/2025 16:33

German parents no longer name their babies Adolf, not ever. It's the same thing with Myra. Sorry.

GloriaBunniford · 11/10/2025 16:33

No.
How could you even think of doing this to an innocent baby girl.
You must know Myra tortured and murdered children in this country, and you want to name a child after her?
(I'm 41, live in the SE and never watch true crime. I know exactly who Myra Hindley was, as does everyone in this country.)

Mwnci123 · 11/10/2025 16:33

No no no no no

BiggyJ · 11/10/2025 16:33

Please just don't.

The connection is still so strong and palpable.

There are so many lovely names out there OP - have fun choosing! 🤗

RealEagle · 11/10/2025 16:32

When i saw the thread title i immediately thought oh it’s about Hindley

cgwdwnmi · 11/10/2025 16:32

Absolutely not. The first thing I thought when I saw the title of the thread was Myra Hindley.

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 11/10/2025 16:31

Maya? (Pronounced My-a) ?

BeaLola · 11/10/2025 16:29

Apart from the Hindley connection I don't like the name , it makes me think of an older person similar to Doreen, Dora, Edna vibe

DramaLlamacchiato · 11/10/2025 16:29

AliceMaforethought · 11/10/2025 15:18

Don't be ridiculous. Ian is an extremely common name, especially in Scotland. It isn't about sexism, it is about how often the name occurs. If Myra Hindley had been named Jennifer, nobody would think twice about the name.

Exactly. Rose is still popular. It’s the fact Myra even then wasn’t that common that makes it a no.

JuvenileBigfoot · 11/10/2025 16:28

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 11/10/2025 15:26

How many people, either in your own real life or celebrities do you know who are called Rose, Fred or Peter?

And how many Myras ?

Ah yeah ok. That makes sense.

Mama1980 · 11/10/2025 16:27

Sorry op but it’s another no from me. The association is just too strong.

DramaLlamacchiato · 11/10/2025 16:27

Algen · 11/10/2025 14:34

I think it’s a pretty name and personally wouldn’t immediately associate it with Myra Hindley (I’m more likely to think of the folk song). However, as seen from this thread a lot of people still have that association - I’d actually be interested to know the age range of people responding, as I really don’t know if it’s one of those names that would always be an issue or one of those names where her peers would have no clue. (I’m mid 40s, so Myra Hindley was really before my time and not local to me anyway, so perhaps not as much impact.)

I’m in my 50s and the Moors Murders were well before my time too and it’s still a no from me. There are still so many TV programmes/podcasts etc on the murders that this name will be associated with her for a long long time yet

Carandache18 · 11/10/2025 16:26

Don't even think of it.

CrystalShoe · 11/10/2025 16:26

No. As another PP said, no one else will miss the Hindley connection. The case is so famous, and always will be. Plus, it's not a very pretty name at all. It sounds kind of harsh. And it reminds me of an era where women set their hair in pink rollers and wore housecoats. "shudder"

The only Myra in Britain is the Hindley kind. Sad but true. Find another name that you both like. It's not as if there aren't hundreds to choose from!

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 11/10/2025 16:24

Viviennemary · 11/10/2025 16:20

Absolutely not. There couldn't be a worse choice.

It's not even as if it's a euphonious name without the taint. There are gazillions of nicercnames to choose from.

AnneShirleyBlythe · 11/10/2025 16:24

I know of 3 Myras in my area. One was born in the late 50s (so pre moors murders) but the other two, one was born in the late 60s the other early 70s. Always wondered what their parents were thinking choosing that name!

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 11/10/2025 16:24

Bromptotoo · 11/10/2025 16:12

How old do you need to be to remember Hindley at all, never mind the Moors Murders themselves?

It's still on the news when a major anniversary comes up. There was a BBC documentary about it this year. Keith Bennets body has not been found and his family have always campaigned to keep the case open.

Contrarymary30 · 11/10/2025 16:24

As soon as I saw it I thought of Myra Hindley. I am in my 70s and was in the same area at the right age .

DramaLlamacchiato · 11/10/2025 16:23

Good god no

If you must at least spell it Mira

User6761 · 11/10/2025 16:22

Mila, Mora, Mara, Morna, Maya, Myla

Lots of nice M names without the awful association.

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 11/10/2025 16:22

I immediately thought Myra Hindley as soon as I read the name, before you mentioned it in your post. I would definitely avoid it. Myla is close?

Viviennemary · 11/10/2025 16:20

KitchenDancefloor · 11/10/2025 14:25

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

Absolutely not. There couldn't be a worse choice.

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