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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

SupermansBigRedPants · 21/06/2013 10:09

I'm 'only' 25 and thought hindley - please mention it to them, poor dd to carry that name :(

RoooneyMara · 21/06/2013 10:10

Because Myra is a much more unusual name to begin with.

It's like trying to avoid seeing black cars. They are everywhere. Good people and bad people are called Ian, people know loads of Ians. The associations aren't uniquely bad.

Myra is a very uncommon name and for most people the only one they have ever heard of will be Myra Hindley.

I think that is why.

Fairyloo · 21/06/2013 10:13

I think we have same friend!!! Odd

Thinkingof4 · 21/06/2013 10:16

I agree with Roooney it's such an unusual name, hence why people quickly think of Hindley. I'm 34 and it was first thing I thought of. Also because of the nature of the crimes, fact she was a woman etc.
Names like Ian, Fred, Rose are common and most people will know a of a few different folk with those names hence less likely to think immediately of the infamous ones

Original poster

itsjustnotagoodidea · 21/06/2013 10:35

Fairyloo Very odd, I wonder if we do! Are you going to say anything? I'm not, I wouldn't know how to broach it.

Myra is an unusual name and that is why it stands out. There are plenty of Ians, Roses and Freds so it's not the same.

OP posts:

jessjessjess · 21/06/2013 10:42

TheDeadlyDonkey because society is more horrified by female murderers and considers them worse. It says a lot about stereotypes that Myra is taboo and Ian is not.

RoooneyMara · 21/06/2013 10:47

I think there is a case to be made about social attitudes to female murderers, certainly, and indeed the prevalence of male murderers in comparison to female, in itself.

But in this instance I think it's more a reflection on the name and its uncommonness.

RoooneyMara · 21/06/2013 10:48

I mean imagine if Hindley had been called Susan. Would we all have recoiled in horror at a baby Susan? No.

dufflefluffle · 21/06/2013 10:48

Or Moira - an oy! in the middle rather than an i sound...similar but not sinister!

lottieandmia · 21/06/2013 10:50

I don't think you should mention it - if someone did that to me and 'suggested' something else I would think they were rude and interfering tbh.

bootsycollins · 21/06/2013 10:51

Sorry to but AKWARD! It's your duty as a friend to tell her.

RoooneyMara · 21/06/2013 10:53

I wouldn't suggest something else. I'd just mention the associations.

I asked people if my baby's name was likely to have bad associations in their country before I used it. I wanted to know.

Luckily it didn't - but another friend used a name that is kind of unpopular in its native country, and I haven't the heart to tell her - it is a great name but apparently not terribly PC. Her child is now at school anyway so too late!

Sarahplane · 21/06/2013 10:56

I'm 27 and Hindley was my first thought.

Scruffey · 21/06/2013 10:57

I'd mention it but be prepared to lose the friendship over it.

They committed murders in the 60s (I think), 20 years before I was born. But all of my generation are well aware of her.

Myra is unusual and therefore associated with Hindley. Ian is different - common name, to associated particularly with Brady.

Maya would be an alternative?

Hamwidge · 21/06/2013 10:58

I thought it. But then I wake up looking at the moors every day so I'm biased

GaryBuseysTeeth · 21/06/2013 11:00

Hindley was my first thought (25).

I love the name, would like to use it myself but I couldn't do it.

burberryqueen · 21/06/2013 11:01

please mention this association to your friend - Myra = Hindley to people of all ages.

AdiosMuffinTop · 21/06/2013 11:49

I would just let her know. Just arm her with the information to decide to stick with it or change.

You can't compare it to Fred. Fred was always popular enough that there were other freds and fred doesn't instantly remind me of fred west in the way that Myra does instantly remind everybody of myra Hindley.

AdiosMuffinTop · 21/06/2013 11:50

rooney, I think I might know what that name is. my now x mil did her best to talk me out of it. she was living in America at the time.

DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved · 21/06/2013 12:58

I think you definitely doing the right thing by not mentioning it.

If she's already named her, then really don't interfere, it would be mean to try and make her doubt herself. And possiy spoil it for her.

I had a friend who did this, and it didn't come across as friend duty or just giving me info, it came across as her being rather unpleasant and causing an issue where there was none. I am not sure what her motivations actually were, but it didn't come across as supportive.

She also gave alternatives, which can't across as her telling me my choice wasn't up to scratch but she felt it was her place to impose her own choice above mine! If it was in the deciding phase then fine, afterwards, not going to go down well!

A name is a name and in most cases takes on the characteristics of the child. Also I would have faith that your friend & her partner have thought about the name and have made a decision they feel is right.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!

weeper · 21/06/2013 13:13

My mum is a Myra and I have a brother called Ian (!)

I honestly don't think the association occurred to my parents when they were naming him in the 80s. Certainly, no-one's ever commented on it. We do joke about how my mum's name is one that will pretty much die out though, which is a shame because people who are not from the UK often comment on what a nice name it is.

I don't think it'll really be that awful if your friend's DD is called Myra. People of her generation won't make the association and although it might cross older people's minds, I doubt they'll comment.

Oh, and she'll be her OWN PERSON, and hopefully not a serial killer.

SugarMouse1 · 21/06/2013 14:23

Maybe she could be called Myley/Miley as well for short?

RoooneyMara · 21/06/2013 16:50

Adios, really? I don't think it is very common at all. I hope I haven't offended you.

notso · 21/06/2013 17:40

I honestly can't see the problem unless the surname is Hindley.

winkygirl · 21/06/2013 18:27

I don't think it is a problem and I wouldn't say anything. When I read Myra I thought, that is an unusual name and then thought of a couple of Myras that I know in their 50s/60s.

My dd is called Madeleine, born just over a year before MM went missing. Only one or two people have ever made a connection.

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