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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.

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AdiosMuffinTop · 21/06/2013 19:49

sorry, leapt to a conclusion there. thought you were talking about Jemima which is too problematic to use in America.

ThedementedPenguin · 21/06/2013 19:56

I'm 23 and haven't a clue who Myra Hindley is.

orangepudding · 21/06/2013 20:03

I think Hindley but I have never heard of another Myra so don't have an other associations.

I wouldn't say anything as it's not an offensive name.

shufflehopstep · 21/06/2013 20:21

I wouldn't. I know an Imelda and my first thought was Imelda Staunton. I've heard other people mention Imelda Marcos. Children won't make the connection, only adults, so they're unlikely to suffer teasing.

Myra Hindley's been dead a while now and Ian Brady's in his 70s so is unlikely to last. Nobody of a younger generation will make the connection.

LazySleepy · 21/06/2013 20:30

Hi- are your friends from India? It is a very popular name in urban India and I guess they are not aware of the connection. I wouldn't mention it, it's a lovely name and I never thought of Hindley.

RoooneyMara · 21/06/2013 21:13

Oh wow - Jemima? Really? (sorry I keep saying that!) How is it problematic? I know of a few over here, it seems very much loved.

The name I was thinking of was a boy's name, I'd love to say it but it'll out me Smile

AdiosMuffinTop · 21/06/2013 21:17

WEll I was told by a black lady that it had racial under tones. 'mamie'. Look at the caricature of a mamie on the side of aunt jemima's pancake and pancake syrup. It has a totally different image over there. apparently. I was told this quite forcefully by a black American. I still doubted her. I went to check it on BabyCenter.com and she was proved right by American posters. shame, loved the name. we've been to America once since she was born.

seventiesgirl · 21/06/2013 21:21

Myra is is lovely. Wouldn't bother me. How many Jack's are there? Ripper anyone?

RoooneyMara · 21/06/2013 21:26

That's fascinating Smile

WouldBeHarrietVane · 21/06/2013 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Essexgirlupnorth · 21/06/2013 21:28

I thought of a girl I went to school with first. I don't think children would make the connection tbh.

WouldBeHarrietVane · 21/06/2013 21:28

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ChippingInWiredOnCoffee · 21/06/2013 21:35

I would say something. Tactfully though.

thegreylady · 21/06/2013 21:36

I would mention it and suggest Moira or even Mary as an alternative.

Guadalupe · 21/06/2013 21:39

I immediately think of a lovely woman we've rented a holiday cottage off for several years.

I can't remember if I thought of Myra Hindley when we first met. If I did it didn't last long.

Nancyclancy · 21/06/2013 21:45

I'm 34, as soon as I saw 'Myra' I thought Hindley. I couldn't give that name to my child. It's a nice name, just the connection.

SoftSheen · 21/06/2013 21:48

How about using the alternative spelling 'Mirah'. It has the same pronunciation but the link is less obvious.

Nancyclancy · 21/06/2013 21:49

As already mentioned, strange how people don't make the connection with the name 'Jack' and 'Jack the Ripper, and other equally evil people. Yet Myra does?

mymagaret · 21/06/2013 22:04

Im 22 and know who Myra Hindley is but didn't think immediately of this. I thought 'pretty name' and more original than most that keep circulating. I don't think its your place to tell your friends what they should call their baby. The person makes the name their own.

pictish · 21/06/2013 22:06

I know a Myra - and actually the connection has never occurred to me.

kelda · 21/06/2013 22:11

The chances are the parents know anyway.

It's a pretty name and popular in several countries so the Hindley connection is probably totally irrelevant to them.

I really wouldn't say anything.

My child has the initials LAD. We don't live in an english speaking country, and it's unlikely we will ever live in the UK. A friend said to me after the birth 'do you know her initials spell 'lad' and she is a girl?'

I rolled my eyes and resisted a sarcastic response, saying simply 'Yes' instead.

None has ever mentioned it since.

TheSecondComing · 21/06/2013 22:17

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShoutyCrackers · 21/06/2013 22:24

Nobody in their right mind would use it knowing the facts. She was a really infamous evil child killer. Why on earth would you do that?

LittleDirewolfBitJoffrey · 21/06/2013 22:58

I'm 27 and I immidiately thought of Myra Hindley. Therefore I would mention it. Its just unusual enough that you make that link, unlike say Rose (West) or Mary (Bell).

bugsybill · 21/06/2013 23:45

How would you tactfully say something about it though?

I think when it comes to names parents will either take 'constructive' criticism /comments to be patronising or just straight critism.

If they chose the name they would have thought about it and reflected on it for awhile and possibly thought of the association and dismissed it.

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