Myra

[JasonsJohn]

My partner and I are expecting a baby girl and we both like the name Myra. She would be named after my grandmother. My mother also used to listen to Myra Hess.

However, will the name cause some negative comments by older folk because of Myra Hindley who with her partner Ian Brady carried out the Moors Murders in the 1960s?

Myra was a common name in the UK years ago, but after 1966 when Hindley was convicted the popularity of it rapidly declined.

“In the early hours of the morning, Nellie gave birth to a healthy daughter whom she called Myra, a name that had been popular since the mid nineteenth century. A hundred years after it came into common usage, ‘Myra’ fell into sharp obscurity, a phenomenon entirely due to the deeds of the girl born that stifling night in the red-brick Victorian building in north Manchester.”

Carol Ann Lee, One of Your Own: The Life and Death of Myra Hindley

Mumsnet was mentioned in another book about the name Myra.

“A telling example of the vehemence and longevity public hatred of Myra Hindley is the following: the girl’s name “Myra,” relatively common in England prior to 1966, declined sharply in popularity thereafter. Such is the continuing infamy associated with the case that in 2008, on the well-known website for parents www.mumsnet.com, a thread was devoted to the topic: “I love the name Myra but does it have too many negative connotations?” The majority of the 75 responses said that the name was still too intimately linked to Hindley to be an appropriate choice for a new baby.”

Lisa Downing, The Subject of Murder: Gender, Exceptionality, and the Modern Killer, page 217.

There are few other lesser known Myras. Samantha Fox’s former partner was named Myra, Gok Wan’s mother is named Myra, etc. There’s also a Myra in Hollyoaks.

Although Myra was a common name prior to the 1960s, because there weren’t many famous people with the name, after Hindley gained press attention and was convicted, the name became associated with her which is why fewer babies were named Myra after the 1960s.

But it’s now the 2020s and we both love the sound of the name and it’s a name that has a family connection.

What does everyone think?

I am in my forties and know a Myra and can honestly say that I didn't think of the connection for the name until reading this thread.

Hindley is my first association. Everyone on here always says it's too closely connected to Hindley. I would not use it. I think she died when I was a child and it's still the first thing I think of when I hear Myra. I'm sorry but I think the name might be ruined for good by her.

The other Myras, on the other hand, I've never heard of, except Myra off Hollyoaks, and she's not exactly a great namesake is she?

It’s a name that should be confined to history. I wouldn’t use it, it’s a cruel thing to give that association to a child.
In 100 years or so it might no matter but too soon.

It's odd that only a couple of names of murderers are universally avoided but others used all the time without applying the same logic. Names such as:

Rose (west)
Peter (sutcliff)
Joseph (Stalin)
Eva (Braun)
Jack (the ripper)
Mary (Bell)

@chocolateorangeinhaler

It's odd that only a couple of names of murderers are universally avoided but others used all the time without applying the same logic. Names such as:

Rose (west)
Peter (sutcliff)
Joseph (Stalin)
Eva (Braun)
Jack (the ripper)
Mary (Bell)

It's really not odd. Those are all very popular names. Myra never was popular.

Rose is the most popular and well known flower.
Peter - Pan. Rabbit. Lots of famous actors, politicians, musicians etc named Peter. Lots of us have had Peters in our school classes
or at work. St Peter. Founded the first church, the first Catholic pope.
Joseph - universally popular Biblical and saints name so same points as above. Also the step father of Jesus. Appears in every Nativity play.
Eva - First thing that springs to mind is Peron. It's not as popular in the UK as your other names but it's still on a worldwide level astoundingly popular worldwide. A variation of the name of the very first woman. Eve. Also Eva Braun was not a child murderer,
paedophile or child torturer. Hindley was. Braun was the girlfriend and wife
for a day of someone so evil and chilling that his name isn't useable now.
Jack - Is one of the most widely used names ever in the UK. It's been Top 10 for decades in the past. Its a part of our common language - Jack in the Box, Jack the Lad, Jumping Jack Flash etc.
Mary - Mother of God. The Virgin Mary. Again, a biblical name. There were lots of Marys in the bible, not just the mother of Jesus. And it's perhaps THE most popular female name ever, for centuries.

If a notorious murderer was discovered tomorrow who had done chilling and awful things to children and was called something like Carlene or Cuthbert, a rarely used name, and that name was in the headlines,
on the front of all the papers etc
with details of their terrible crimes, those names would pretty swiftly become notorious and unusable.

It's all to do with the existing popularity of the name. I already know people, and multiple people, with all of those names mentioned above. I don't know an Orville, a Madonna, a Simba etc. But all of those names are unusable for most people too as they are strongly associated with famous characters or people.

@chocolateorangeinhaler

It's odd that only a couple of names of murderers are universally avoided but others used all the time without applying the same logic. Names such as:

Rose (west)
Peter (sutcliff)
Joseph (Stalin)
Eva (Braun)
Jack (the ripper)
Mary (Bell)

What are people not understanding. Those are all very common names, hence they don’t have that immediate connection, Myra is not it’s very unusual and it’s the only time I’ve ever heard anyone with that name

Myra is very unusual. You can hardly compare it with Peter or Rose….!

I think if you're struggling with the belief that all human souls have infinite value despite their sin and that even the greatest sinner can be find redemption in the love of Jesus Christ then Christianity is indeed not the religion for you.

Being sceptical about the inner truth of one particular deathbed conversion of someone who's not previously shown any previous Christian charity is different, but if you don't believe it's possible then you've missed the point. At no point in any of the Gospels is there a footnote saying
"*except child murderers obviously"

Doesn't look like the OP is coming back.

First thing I thought was Myra hindley don't do it to the poor child. Go for Lyra instead it's nicer anyway

It's a pretty name.

Funny how Myra gets the Hindley association but Ian was populat in the 1960s and 70s, and Brady is acceptable now.

But Myra was always a bit niche wasn't it, hence the stronger association with a notorious bearer of that name.

Like Eva and Adolf perhaps.

I'm 30 and first thought Hindley. It's a name like Adolf, once popular, now the connection to such an awful person makes it impossible to name a child that.

I'm starting to think it was a weird troll post because no one in their right mind would straddle a little girl with the name most associated with the torture and murder of children, by a woman, in British history.

Wtaf.

It's not even a nice name imo.

Lyra is nice though.

Don’t do it OP.

Yip. Hindley.

What about Lyra, Kyra, or Tyra

Weirdly I know a German Adolf who is about 58. Don't know what his parents were thinking.

Myra - Hindley. Please don't do this to your beloved baby. There are so many beautiful names for a girl.

Maya - Angelou
Lyra
Audrey
Ebba
Helen
Eleanor
Elizabeth

I don't mean cal your baby Maya Angelou, just that Maya is a good name nd reminds me of Maya Angelou

I'm 30 and I would always associate it with Hindley.
You just cannot choose this name.

No. Just no. Truly.

What about Maire and Irish name pronounced Moy-ra. Emphasis on Moy. I guess like Moira (but that is also a town).