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?

Hate it sorry

It's really not fair to do this to your DD. I met a Lyra recently and thought what a gorgeous name.

It’s not just “older folk” for whom it will have negative associations. Dd1 (20) immediately said Hindley when I asked her if she liked the name. I’d say for most people it’s the first thing they will think of. It would be an awful burden for any child.

What about when your child wants to look up the meaning of her name and other famous people called Myra are listed? Could be so upsetting. I also think she'll have older people mentioning the link all her life. A name should be a joy, not a burden.

You could use Meira orv Mira as a spelling.
Meira is welsh and is Mey-ra

[quote tiggerwhocamefortea]@Handsoffstrikesagain

Yup quite a few sources at the time confirmed she was granted the last rites by a priest in hospital [/quote]
That’s not any kind of ‘automatic passport to heaven’ thing, though. It’s confession and anointing, just.

Myra is as much Myra Hess as Myra Hindley for me.

I taught a Maira. Lovely name, however, Myra and Ian do make me think of those notorious murderers.

I immediately think of Myra Hindley so it's a big no from me

How about Mira (me-ra) instead?

Adolf was a common name in German-speaking countries, but after the end of WW2 and the crimes of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis became known to the world, German-speakers generally speaking have avoided naming their kids Adolf even though for many of them the name was used for generations in their families.

The same thing seems to have happened in the UK with regard to the name Myra. The name Myra was a fairly common name, but Myra Hindley gained notoriety in the press the name became associated with her for a lot of people. I think a similar case can be said for the name Maxine. The name Maxine was a fairly common name, but the name is associated with Maxine Carr so many people don’t bother to use it anymore.

On a side note, in some parts of India, some Indian parents decided to name their kids Lenin, Stalin and similar names. There’s even an Indonesian politician named Hitler Nababan. Years ago before Adolf Hitler, there was a Hitler family in Ohio and two men in the family were named Gay Hitler and George Washington Hitler!

Although when it comes to name Myra there is undeniably an association with Myra Hindley, I don’t think that people will make the assumption that I named my daughter after her. Surely not.

Don’t do it! It’s a terrible stigma to attach to a child.

People will not think you named her after her but many will immediately think of her, those dead eyes and those poor children.

Yep. It's actually not a bad name but will bring that photo of her to mind. I worked with a German guy called Adolf (here in the UK). He would've been born around 1970. I always felt really sorry for him.

I loved the name Myra, it was my grandmother's name that she went by (middle name) but there's no way I could have used it because of Myra Hindley. I told a couple of people I liked the name but was not using it, and even mentioning the name got them upset and saying "no, you just can't do that". There are lots of similar names you can use but I would definitely not use Myra unfortunately.

What about Moira? Similar feeling and sound, but without the obvious negative connotations.

What about Maura? Or Marni?

I think Lyra is a good compromise.

I'm afraid as this thread proves Myra is pretty much unusable in the UK.
It's a pretty name but like everyone else says the connotation makes it a no from me.

Don’t do it op, I’m not sure how many folks you need before you drop the idea. You can make it her middle name

In addition to the link with hindley it’s also not a very beautiful name, I’m sorry, but it’s not, there are so many beautiful names you can chose from, so use Myra as a middle name.

The moors murders were so awful and although it's a family name it could be seen as very bad taste to use the name of a serial killer For a baby

I'd have a re-think

The moors murders case are often used in GCSE sociology as case studies too and in some a level modern history courses

Please avoid this

Objectively it is actually a nice name but even seeing it written down you immediately think of Hindley. Problem is due to it being an rare name for the past 40 or 50 years whereas it doesn't happen with the likes Rose (West) or other because they are so commonly used and have been down the years. Could you maybe call her Mira so the spelling is totally different?

Unfortunately...

I know a little Myra, she has a cute wee sister called Lucie too. Have you considered Mirabel?

@JasonsJohn

Adolf was a common name in German-speaking countries, but after the end of WW2 and the crimes of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis became known to the world, German-speakers generally speaking have avoided naming their kids Adolf even though for many of them the name was used for generations in their families.

The same thing seems to have happened in the UK with regard to the name Myra. The name Myra was a fairly common name, but Myra Hindley gained notoriety in the press the name became associated with her for a lot of people. I think a similar case can be said for the name Maxine. The name Maxine was a fairly common name, but the name is associated with Maxine Carr so many people don’t bother to use it anymore.

On a side note, in some parts of India, some Indian parents decided to name their kids Lenin, Stalin and similar names. There’s even an Indonesian politician named Hitler Nababan. Years ago before Adolf Hitler, there was a Hitler family in Ohio and two men in the family were named Gay Hitler and George Washington Hitler!

Although when it comes to name Myra there is undeniably an association with Myra Hindley, I don’t think that people will make the assumption that I named my daughter after her. Surely not.

So what was the point of asking people if you're going to ignore 99% of the posters?

Also, remember that it is your daughter who will be living with the name - not you.

It's a hard NO from me too, sorry OP. I would definitely have a WTF moment if someone told me their baby was called Myra.
Although I can see that it's a nice name on its own if you try really hard to ignore the connection.

What about Mara or Miranda?

Or use Myra as a middle name.