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?

At secondary school, I knew a girl called Myra.

My mum was puzzled by her parent’s decision. The world was their oyster when naming their daughter, and that was the name they chose.

My first thoughts when thinking of famous Lucys:

Narnia - Lucy Pevensie.
Paddington - Aunt Lucy.
Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
E. M. Forster - Lucy Honeychurch in A Room with a View (famously played by Helena Bonham Carter in the film)
Jane Austen - Lucy Steele in S&S
Charlotte Bronte- Lucy Snowe in Villette

Lucy Bronze. English footballing legend. Helped win the Euros while having a fractured tibia.
Lucy Worsley. TV historian.
Lucy Liu. American actress.
Lucy Davis. Played Dawn in The Office.
Lucy M Boston. Author of the Green Knowe children's novels.
Lucy Cousins. Author of the Maisy Mouse picture books

Lots of very positive Lucy connotations there, who wouldn't want to share a name with the likes of Lucy Pevensie or Lucy Bronze? Excellent role models both fictional and real.

Indeed Also although its not popular now
Ian was a fairly common name in the 70,s after Ian Brady had been convicted.

I love the name Lucy and I don't think it's distinctive enough to associate with a particular person in the news. As other posters have pointed out, the infamy of Rose West has not dinted the popularity of Rose - it seems to be the middle name if just about every little girl these days.

We were going to call our daughter Lucinda, perhaps Lucy for short. The only reason we didn't is that I'm known by the diminutive Lizzie and we thought Lucy was too similar. I liked Cindy as a diminutive but H did not!

What about Lucinda or Luciana? That gives you (and her) options.

Don't forget Lucy-fer 😈

Didn't even consider the Letby association

It’s one of my least favourite names but that’s from my Mum always calling a childhood friend Lucy Lastic (loose elastic) and I can never get the image of knickers falling down out of my head…

Another friend called Lucy had a mum with a really prominent lisp - could never understand while she called both dc names with S sounds

I guess both of these illustrate people do have very specific associations with names though

If the Letby thing is on your mind then you can’t change that! But there are plenty of other beautiful names you could go for

My last dog was called Lucy and it's never crossed my mind to make a connection!

I always think of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Its a beautiful name.

I wouldn't think Letby at all.

A friend of mine was considering Madeleine for her baby and all I could think was McCann. I can't put my finger on why it feels like a 'no go' name to me when other names (like Lucy) feel fine. Possibly because its more unusual and she was a child.

You could give your child any name and then unfortunately someone with that name goes on to commit a terrible crime. But that said if it brings up that association for you and you don’t like it because of that then it’s probably not the name for you

There are thousands of lovely names, if you are not sure about a name, it’s not the right one. You will find a name you both love.

I love the name Lucy. I read your post and thought of my cat, that is her name. Wouldn't even associate it with Lucy Letby - and without being deliberately controversial, there are a huge amount of people (and some evidence) suggesting her innocence.

Think of the stories you can tell if she is!

I’ve seen crazy posts on here over the years but this one seriously is the most insane one I have ever seen.

I feel for your husband and future child. Have you always been this neurotic?

I disagree, Madeleine is a lovely name and no one should feel it's out of bounds.

"Myra" is unusual because of Myra Hindley. Before the 1960s it was a popular name, especially in Scotland and the North of England.

I know three women (born late '50s/early 60s) called Myra. Like a lot of women named Myra, one of these women chooses to use her middle name, lending more weight to the unaccurate perception that Myra has never been a popular name.

My first thought when I saw "Lucy" in the title was that it was another post speculating about Lucy Letby's guilt. The longer her crimes remain in the news, the greater the association of her crimes with her name will be.

It's a shame, because Lucy, Myra and Rose are beautiful names, but I would avoid them when naming a child.

The only reason I’d not use Lucy is if my surname was Letby.

I think the current generations having babies may find the name Myra a bit old fashioned but I don't think they would have that hesitation due to the Hindley connection. Too much time has passed, she died 24 years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myra_(given_name)

A small snapshot, if I saw the names below, I wouldn't think Hindley.

Myra MacDonald, Scottish journalist
Myra Louise Bunce (1854–1919), English designer and painter
Myra Bennett (1890–1990), British celebrated nurse
Myra Albert Wiggins (1869–1956), American painter and pictorial photographer who became a member of the important early 20th century Photo-Secession movement
Myra Kukiiyaut (1929–2006), Inuk artist
Myra Landau (1926–2018), Romanian-born artist and abstract painter
Myra Juliet Farrell (1878–1957), Australian visionary, inventor and artist
Myra Louise Taylor (1881–1939), British nursing superintendent
Myra English (1933–2001), Hawaiian entertainer and celebrity tourism promoter

If you like it, go for it.

Any name that has not been in popular use for over 60 years is going to sound old-fashioned, but it's fall from favour is due to it's association with an evil child-murderer, not because it's "old-fashioned".

I doubt anyone, apart from you, would think of any of your Myras (most of whom have been dead for 100+years) before "Hindley" sprang to mind.

I didn’t say anyone would think of those women if someone said ‘Myra’, I said if I saw those women’s names, I wouldn’t think of the association with Myra.

Whats front and centre in your mind isn’t going to be front and centre for Gen Z / Gen Y.

Same to you, if you like Myra, go for it.

Fucking hell! No one is making that link!

Funnily enough, friends of ours have small daughters called Rose and Lucy and it’s never occurred to me that to consider that they’ve picked a deliberate theme of female serial killers!

I get the qualm when it’s constantly in the headlines. I remember the secret thrill of seeing my children’s prospective names in print when no one but me and DH knew what they were, and it must be horrible to have that so tarnished. But I really wouldn’t imagine for a second it would follow her through life in a negative way. It’s such a beautiful and well-used name, I knows loads of all ages.

Lucy is my favourite girl’s name, I had boys and there’s also a Lucy in the family so couldn’t use it. I wouldn’t let LL put me off. it’s not like Myra for Myra Hindley, which was an unusual name, Lucy is much more
popular. Also LL will have faded into obscurity or will hopefully off herself soon.

LOL

How ridiculous, it's a lovely name. It wouldn't even cross my mind.

I know 2 Myra's and they are lovely!

Love it! And do you think of Myra Hindley when you see them?