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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Friend has just named their new DD...

106 replies

itsjustnotagoodidea · 21/06/2013 01:57

Myra.

First thought is Hindley as I imagine most people would. Friends are not from UK but live here so may not know the connection. Would you mention it to them before they register the baby? Poor child will have no end of nasty teasing throughout school. It's not the sort of crime that will ever be forgotten.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BOF · 21/06/2013 02:06

I would mention it. Ian seems to have slipped through the net, but Adolf, for example, hasn't, and it's about as bad in terms of associations.

BasicallyBeyonce · 21/06/2013 02:12

My first thought was Myra from Hollyoaks

strawberryswing · 21/06/2013 03:17

Same beyonce!. Hindley aside it is a lovely name and I think adults are more likely to pick up on it than children in a school

But yes, I would say something. I'm sure little Myra would get tired of hearing 'as in Hindley?' constantly!

chillisbopper · 21/06/2013 03:20

I am inclined to agree. I didn't immediately think Myra Hindley however I read the post quite quickly rather than dwelling on just the name Myra. Now that the connection has been made in my mind I am trying to think of any other Myra so it doesn't seem so bad and I truly can't, that is the one and only Myra in my head.

I'd mention it just so that your friends have thought it through and if they still go ahead then I'd try to put it out of your mind as much as possible so you can enjoy seeing their child. I have a friend who named his daughter Madeleine, she's about 3 now, unfortunately my first thought was of poor Madeleine McCann, and it just didn't feel right. But they went ahead as they liked the name.

AdoraBell · 21/06/2013 03:42

I'd also mention it, fwiw I'm 45 and as soon as I saw Myra my mind filled in Hindley.

Congrats to your friends for their new DD

Dillydollydaydream · 21/06/2013 04:25

Def first thought was Myra hindley. Maybe suggest Lyra instead.

RantyMcRantpants · 21/06/2013 04:27

I have a friend who is in her late 20's called Myra and until I saw it written here I didn't even make the connection to Hindley. She's a lovely girl and her own person and has her own surname and personality.

DontmindifIdo · 21/06/2013 06:03

It is rather a generational issue though, as Myra hindly is dead and Ian Brady is on his way out too, the names might well slip out of the public consciousness as being child murderers (unless you live near the moors).

If they genuinely haven't heard

DontmindifIdo · 21/06/2013 06:04

(posted too soon)

If they genuinely haven't heard of the moors murderers then it would be worth telling them, but it is a lovely name.

SoupDragon · 21/06/2013 06:05

I think it's very difficult to mention it unless you are very good friends.

Littleturkish · 21/06/2013 06:06

28 here and didn't make the connection.

munchkinmaster · 21/06/2013 06:12

I know an older lady called Myra and had never made the connection.

Chubfuddler · 21/06/2013 06:27

I think the connection is slipping out of out collective consciousness tbh. I wouldn't say anything.

TheRealFellatio · 21/06/2013 06:35

Is she aware? If she's young she may not be. I would find it hard to know how to broach this without her being very upset. Changing your baby's name is a really big deal. But maybe it's time to reclaim the name and allow it to move on from negative connotations. If younger people do not make the connection then perhaps those of us who do should just accept that and embrace it.

Urgh though.

PattieOfurniture · 21/06/2013 06:48

I thought of Myra McQueen hollyoaks too and I'm 32.
Hindley didn't even enter my head till I read the whole post.

kelda · 21/06/2013 06:50

Myra is a common name outside of the UK. I wouldn't say anything.

zippey · 21/06/2013 06:56

I think it's a nice name and wouldn't say anything. What's the problem? It doesn't mean the child will be bad and we shouldn't give the deceased killer the power over a lovely name like that.

kelda · 21/06/2013 06:58

Chances are they will pronounce it Meera.

LaChaiseVerte · 21/06/2013 07:00

My friends have called their baby Myla, and I unfortunately thought of Myra. I wouldn't do it myself but agree it's a shame that a name should be ruined by one person. I wouldn't say anything.

PotteringAlong · 21/06/2013 07:01

I'm 33 and that wasn't my first thought.

Say nothing.

capercaillie · 21/06/2013 07:08

I wouldn't say anything.

I didn't think of hindley first. I had an aunt called Myra.

TheDeadlyDonkey · 21/06/2013 07:13

I'm 37 and thought of a character in a Noel Streatfeild book.
It's a lovely name. I can't see children in a playground making the connection at all.

KnittedWaffle · 21/06/2013 07:14

I'm mid-thirties and didn't immediately think of Hindley. It's a nice name in its own right and if they're outside the UK it shouldn't be a problem. (No doubt some other countries have serial killers whose names we don't necessarily think of when naming our DC examples here )

snuffaluffagus · 21/06/2013 07:15

I'm 32 and did immediately think hindley, but kids at school wouldn't make that connection.

SconeInSixtySeconds · 21/06/2013 07:17

I think the change will come in a few years when Ian Brady dies and the news will be filled with both their names all over again. :(

I would mention it tbh.

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