AIBU to rule out Lucy (as a baby name) because of the Lucy Letby association?

[WhereWithWho]

We're having a baby girl in June, and my DH loves the name Lucy. I think the name itself is lovely but will not agree to it only because of the association to Lucy Letby. My DH thinks that I've gone mad and has said that it's a popular enough name that she will not be anyone's first thought. He also feels that she's mostly been forgotten. My feeling is that she could be in the news for many more years, documentaries are still being made, and she's become more internationally known. I want to avoid naming my daughter Lucy for the same reason that I would avoid naming her Myra or Rose. Thoughts?

It would not have even crossed my mind. Lovely name, underused these days I think.

YABU. Lucy and Rose are far too common for that to be a consideration imo. I am more likely to think of the film Titanic when I hear Rose, and Lucy has been a character in many classic books over the years.

Do you focus a lot on true crime? Maybe it's just too big of an influence in your life, if you're thinking that way.

Would never have crossed my mind.

That said, if your surname is Letby, I'd avoid it.

Yabu, I wouldn't immediately associate Lucy with Lucy letby, I would think of the character in the narnia books if anything. Maybe you could consider Lucille for a similar vibe but not the same name

It is far too common/normal a name for anyone to make a connection to Lucy Letby. Lots of people in the general public are called Lucy and many well-known people & literary characters are called Lucy so I guarantee it won’t cross a single persons mind at all in your child’s lifetime. Same thing with Rose like another poster said above.

It’s not a distinctive/less common name like Myra where people will make the connection pretty instantly because you hear the name so infrequently (in fact that’s a big reason why that name died out).

I don’t think you can compare Lucy or Rose to Myra, as Myra is unusual and people would instantly jump to Myra Hindley. A child called Myra would be quite jarring. I don’t think the same can be said with Lucy.

Having said that, my daughter was born at the time of her trial and we were close to naming her Lucy and it was one of the things that put me off the name at the time. I sort of regret it in a way as it’s a lovely name and I was overthinking everything at the time but it’s done now.

Wouldn't have crossed my mind to be honest. I'm assuming your surname isn't letby. If it is I would then avoid but if not it's a lovely name.

I think you should look up Lucy Darling!

There are so many Lucies that everyone knows at least one, so no they won't think of that particular one. Like Fred and Rose.

No, but I am one of those that strongly associates names with people (both people that I know and people that I don't). I do not have any Lucys in my personal life, so this is my association.

Lucy Letby is innocent

I do quite like Lucille and Lucienne!

It's such a common name I'm genuinely surprised that you've no prior associations with it. Have you never read C.S. Lewis books for example?

I agree with your husband it's very unlikely anyone would make the link to Lucy Letby.

That’s like saying you want to avoid the name Jack because of Jack the Ripper.

When in reality Jack is always in the fop 10 baby boy names.

He also feels that she's mostly been forgotten. My feeling is that she could be in the news for many more years,

She couldn’t be forgotten soon enough for me.

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the Narnia Chronicles are going to come out later this year I think, and then Lucy as a name will EXPLODE in popularity, you mark my words. C.S. Lewis’s character Lucy is wonderful - compassionate, brave, curious, smart.

I would personally go for Lucinda, and Lucy as a nickname.

I wouldn't associate Lucy with the killer nurse at all. Far too many people have that name.

Now if it was something more unique like Gypsy Rose (who participated in killing her mum) I'd understand where your coming from.

Lucy is a lovely name. I know 2 little girls called Lucy (and incidentally 2 named Rose). All lovely children and would never cross my mind.

I’m here to advocate for Lucie as the spelling! That avoids immediate comparison (that no one would do I don’t think)

It’s a beautiful name. You could always spell it Lucie. There’s Charles Dickens but also Charles Manson. Every name has a good and a bad example. Personally I think of the Beatles song whenI hear the name Lucy.

😂😂 Sorry OP but this made me laugh out loud!

Lucy was our top girl’s name for years and when our daughter was born recently we did decide to go with something else to avoid the association with Lucy Letby. In my case though I’m the one that thinks the name is fine to use but my DH has been completely put off it (even though years ago it was him that suggested it). I would have still used the name but obviously couldn’t because her dad didn’t want to.

Lucy is a great choice - really grows with the child, too. (No need to mess with the spelling of a classic name!)

That’s a wild reason to be put off a name. However, there is a near-infinite list of possible alternatives, so just veto it and move on - it’s clearly tarnished for you now

Lucy makes me think of Lucy in the sky with diamonds.

its a nice normal everyday name. Doubt anyone would associate it with Lucy Letby.

Unless your second name is Letby?

Noooo, I know a couple of Lucy's and it's never crossed my mind, I also know a Rose, on the other hand if you said you're going to call her Myra then that would be a complete no no..