Would it put you off a name if a high profile news case involving someone with the same name was in the news around the time your child was born?

[Giltedged]

Probably badly explained - I suppose not dissimilar to using Ghislane just when she was found guilty but obviously Ghislaine is quite an unusual name so when you say it most people do think ‘maxwell.’

Would you just give the name a swerve and find another one?

I think Lucy is fine, it’s a classic and popular name, so I’d think of Lucy in Lion Witch Wardrobe before the other one.

Lucy is such a popular, classic name, it won't be associated with Lucy Letsby.

DH and I had agreed on "Amy" to morning of the day Amy Winehouse's death was announced in the afternoon. It's such an "ordinary" name that no one has ever linked it to Amy W. I think you're fine with Lucy.

Lucy is a pretty common name. (In a good way!) I don't think people will associate with it.

And despite the horrific nature of that case, it doesn't seem that high profile. Maybe around the verdict it will be.

Lucy is a very common name, I don't think the case will be remembered for years to come, unlike Myra, or Madeline.

We inadvertently named our DD after two Tory prime ministers. We are very much not conservative voters, but she was born before the second PM came to power. It's just one of those things (and I think - hope - that people mostly don't notice?!)

If we'd realised I suspect we would have made a difference choice!

I agree with another PP who has said that this hasn’t been as high-profile when you compare it to some other cases but the whole idea of it is so distressing and they are right, it might become a big, talked-about thing depending on how the sentencing goes? Would you consider Lucia? xx

I think it depends on how popular the name is generally. So agree that Myra will always be Myra Hindley, but names like Holly, Jessica, Ian, Fred, Rose are all quite standard and would not ring those bells to most people. Even if it's big news at the time it will die down and if it's a popular name that won't be the first thing people think.

Ghislaine just gives me awful goosebumps, for me it's worse if they are the perpetrator and she is just an all round terrible human being with a unique name. Myra vibes for sure.

It hasn’t been high profile yet @fairycupcakes but when the verdict is out it may well erupt in the media. I think they have to be cautious at the moment. And as luck would have it the verdict is due around my due date.

Not really a fan of Lucia - not sure why (sorry to any Lucias out there!)

Plenty of nice Lucys out there...Lucy Worsley etc. Good solid name IMO.

Always useful to get a second opinion, though. I remember in the 1980s my friend spent ages choosing a boy's name and finally confided in me they were planning on Peter William. I instantly said "Yorkshire Ripper" and she was very annoyed with me! They called him Simon instead. However I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid at Peter William now.

I think if it wasn't for that twisted bitch Myra would be quite popular. Its a very pretty name.

Yeah I agree I do think they have to be really cautious currently because she may well be innocent and being used as a scapegoat but I agree either way it will become more prominent in the media when the verdict is reached. If it’s bothered you enough to ask the question I think it will always play on your mind, especially if she is found guilty but maybe just wait a little bit longer to name baby or look at other options if you feel that way? As others have said Lucy is a popular and classic name but I totally understand where you are coming from with the timings etc! xx

It’s a pain because although there are lots of nice names we both like they are all out for various reasons. We both like Charlotte but a friend of DHs had a daughter who was stillborn with that name and we just feel it would be very insensitive to use it. Another contender is Anna which I do like a lot but somehow doesn’t feel like my daughter - not sure why as I’ve always liked the name!

It is most probably a boy anyway!

If her name was something like Olivia, Isabella, Ava or Amelia I'd say its not an issue, but. Lucy isn't quite as popular nowadays for babies, therefore. I do think using the name now while it's all going on will make people think of Lucy Letby regardless of the verdict because we must keep in mind she hasn't been found guilty yet. In a year or 2 I'd say it'll be safe to use again

I wouldn't think twice about using the name Lucy- if you asked me to list famous Lucys I'd be there for hours before I came up with Lucy Letsby, if I ever did. It's completely different to Ghislaine, Myra etc.

Lucy is fine! It's a relatively common name and there are plenty of other, lovely Lucys that I would associate it with first (as mentioned by PP, Lucy Worsley came to mind immediately).

The only time I wouldn't use a name in this kind of situation is if it's relatively uncommon. Eg I still wouldn't use Madeleine as (although it's a well known name) I think I've only ever come across a handful of them in real life or on TV etc, so my immediate association is with Madeleine McCann. Similarly there was a thread on here a few days ago with a poster asking about Reeva - the responses almost universally said it was too closely connected with the Reeva Steenkamp/Oscar Pistorius case. I really doubt there will be any such issues with Lucy. Go for it!

Lucy? No I don't think that's an issue because it's so common and has so many other associations. Myra for example would be very different.

Lucy is fine! Wouldn't make the link at all.

A PP mentioned Reeva - someone I vaguely know called their baby Reeva shortly after the Reeva Steenkamp news broke, which I found quite strange. Such an unusual name (for the UK, anyway - and the people I know aren't S African) and so high profile at the time.

Lucy Letby is the one that I thought of as soon as I saw this. And it has crossed my mind when I saw it on a baby name thread recently.

But I wouldn’t think anything of it if someone used it.

No not here
I loved the name Maddy and it was around the time poor Madeleine Mcann went missing
My Maddy (Madeleine) was still our preferred name amd have never regretted it .

I think it depends on how unusual the name is. If you'd planned to use Rolf right as the Rolf Harris news came out then yes definitely wouldn't use but if it was a more run of the mill name like James, Daniel, Oliver etc then no I wouldn't change it

Lucinda?

I was going to use Lucy as my example as a name I would still use before I read your update, so yes I would still go for it. There are loads of famous Lucys to be associated with (like the character from the Narnia books) whereas there’s really only one Myra people think of, for example

Its also worth bearing in mind that right now the timing will seem really close but in 5 years no one will remember what week or month Lucy Letby was sentenced in.

That is true @riotlady

I really don’t like Lucinda or Lucille or any variants to be honest. It would be a different name if we decided not to go with Lucy.

Exactly. I love the name Myra. I think it's beautiful but there's no way I could use it.

Lucy is a beautiful and classic name!

I do not think of Lucy Letby when I hear the name Lucy.