Unity? Surely not.

[LeBonCrubbeen]

Doesn’t everyone just think “Hitler’s biggest fan” when they hear it?

Yes!

I saw it suggested on here but hesitated to mention it as I am older than average and thought maybe it's that.

Nope, wouldn't connect it to Mitford for me. Like the pp I'd be imagining an African child. It's along the lines of Innocent, Miracle, Blessing etc.

I wouldn't have thought of a Mitford sister at all. Tbh that was 70 / 80 years ago and not very well known.

I think Mitford too, but then I read a biography of the family, so I probably know more about it than many people my age.
What’s weird to me is that she got the strangest name in that family. Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Jessica, Deborah... and then there’s her, Unity Valkyrie.

Even if I didn’t know about the Mitford connection, I’d think it a strange name. If it was a child of African descent then OK, but if not it’d be an odd choice.

I have a soft spot for puritan virtue names - I wouldn't make the Mitford connection personally.

Hitler and "shot herself" for me. (Tried to blow her brains out and missed... )

Yep Mitford here too (though I did study History as part of my degree).

Irrespective of that I think there are much nicer names out there if they wanted a virtue name though.

I’ve known a (lovely) woman called Unity for years.

I’m aware of the Mitford of course but I’ve never thought of the name in connection with it.

I have several friends called Eva

That's odd, I definitely immediately think of Unity, Hitler and her suicide attempt. She is rather a sad and misguided figure and for me rather brings negative connotations to the name.
Eva is so much more common that there are many positive role models to outweigh Eva Braun ( although for the moment I can only think of Eva Longoria and Eva Herzigova ; pretty women but beauty isn't a quality to aspire to in my mind)
What is the derivation of Unity in its use as a name? Is it a virtue?

Eva and Unity don't even begin to compare - Eva is much more common and widely used.

There was a thread on here a while back from someone with the surname Brown wondering if they could call their DD Eva.

Some people who'd never heard of her said it was fine, but the majority said - no, just too close to Braun, why would you do it?

I jump to Mitford too I’m afraid. How about Liberty?

(Sorry, just reread your OP and realised you may be speculating, not name shopping )

First thought was a large caravan park near me ( Unity Farm), second was Mitford.
Quite like the name though!!

Yes, Mitford, but that's probably an age thing. Deborah, nn Debo, might be a better alternative.

Yep. She went to my school for about half a nanosecond.

My god @RiverTam how old are you?!! You're doing well, still Mumsnetting in your nineties.

I had completely forgotten about Unity Logan! I bet AF did that deliberately. I’ve never met one in real life.

Yes but is that because I'm quite old.

Oh, and Liberty = bodice, but I’m not shopping for names.

Mitford was my first thought, with the Hitler connection, and I'm in my early thirties.

I never said I was at school with her .