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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

changing name at 15 months

48 replies

FF1 · 21/08/2023 18:28

I'm thinking of changing my daughter's name, even though she is already 15 months. I know this is pretty late in the day. Does anyone know how much this is likely to cost and how easy or difficult it is?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ItstimeToMoveagain · 22/08/2023 19:26

No ones going to associate it with this. Its to common a name.

How often do you see a young Joseph and think of Joseph fritzl for example

Trenchfootinthescottishhighlandstoday · 22/08/2023 19:30

Be worse if you change it and eventually have to tell her why. Just pick a new nickname op.

ammyy · 22/08/2023 19:37

You can't go around changing her name like that. Are you going to change her name again if someone with the same name as her new name is in the news for something horrible. Calm down

Raisinnola · 22/08/2023 19:38

OP I would really urge you to take a bit of time before deciding to commit to this, it’sa huge deal and likely to be very confusing for your daughter.
i genuinely don’t think anyone will make that association, I certainly don’t think it will negatively affect her at all, I think Lucy is a very pretty name and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for a daughter even now.

Trying2bemum · 22/08/2023 19:42

Lucy is a lovely name OP

PurpleReindeer2 · 22/08/2023 19:48

You are massively over thinking this.

FirstTimeMumma2021 · 22/08/2023 20:04

I think you really need to think about this and speak with someone about how other news is affecting you so much to an all consuming level. Even when I read your reasoning, it took me a fair few seconds to understand the connection. I'd also be thinking about the fairness on your daughter who already responds to this name. What if you were to change her nname based on that reasoning then another news story breaks in 2 years time. Would you change it everytime? Lucy is such a common name that honestly, I've already forgotten that it was her first name and also know people with children and have a friend called Lucy and have never once made the connection.

shmivorytower · 22/08/2023 20:12

I agree with PP and think that you are completely overreacting. I am wondering whether this is the expression of something else that is going on with you? Perhaps ask yourself what’s at the root of this and then approach your GP or health visitor to get help.

Original poster

FF1 · 22/08/2023 20:13

@FirstTimeMumma2021 It's not all consuming, I'm just trying to think about what is best for my daughter. I think the point has been made loud and clear that I'm overthinking this so I'm going to turn off commenting now. Thank you again for all the feedback, I do feel better about it. Lucy is my daughter, she is very special and beautiful, she has a classic and timeless name that she can be proud of and we are proud of her too. Enough said. Thank you.

OP posts:

xyz111 · 22/08/2023 20:23

Op, none of her little friends at nursery and school are going to say "ooh you're named after a serial killer!!!" This is ridiculous Op. your daughter must know her name by now. Yes it's all in the news now, but come a few weeks no one will be talking about it (it won't be all over social media and the news). Please don't do anything hasty. What does her dad say about it?

FirstTimeMumma2021 · 22/08/2023 20:26

@FF1 completely understand, I overthink everything and even moreso when it comes to my ds.
Sorry of yoh thought I was having a go as wasn't my intention at all, you're a brilliant mum and you're concern shows that. It can be hard when we are impacted by something to wonder about everything else x

Original poster

FF1 · 22/08/2023 20:34

@FirstTimeMumma2021 I didn't feel like you were having a go at me, don't worry. Thanks.

OP posts:

Mumoftwo2022 · 22/08/2023 21:47

My niece is called Lucy and I saw her today, even though I’ve been reading all the Lucy Letby stuff and have been horrified by it when I saw Lucy today I certainly didn’t think of that horrible nurse just spent time with my lovely niece and Lucy is such a nice name. I hope that makes you feel better.

FloweryName · 22/08/2023 22:04

Lucy is a lovely name and it’s popular enough that the nurse will only be a minor association with it. Your dd is young enough that her peers will know nothing of the case unless they seek out true crime stories.

googledidnthelp · 22/08/2023 22:07

I know plenty of girls called Rose and never once before reading your post have I thought about Rose West.

Don't change it. It's her name and it's a lovely name. Can you imagine if every bad persons name was wiped out, there would be none left already

Original poster

FF1 · 22/08/2023 22:20

I'm not going to change it, I was feeling very emotional from reading the news but I'm in a better position now. I realise that Lucy is a lovely name and has so many positive associations and I realise it would be defeatist and irrational to change a name based on one bad person. Thanks for the comments!

OP posts:

Fivebeanchilli · 22/08/2023 22:22

I agree you're overthinking it.
I think the thing is with popular names which also happen to be the names of horrible people (such as Lucy, Rose, Fred, Peter) the criminals are only known by their full names so Lucy Letby, Rose West, Fred West, Peter Sutcliffe etc.
One of my best friends is a Lucy and she hasn't crossed my mind despite all the coverage.
It would be different if it was an unusual name I think - for example, Myra is a name that is unlikely to be used much, because it's so associated with a single person.
It's a lovely name and one evil person won't affect that...

Rochyella84 · 22/08/2023 22:23

Love the name Lucy! It’s classic and lovely. I work with children and have worked with several Rose’s, a Fred, a Peter and a Ted and these things have never crossed my mind. I am actually currently working with a Myra - now that I admit DID cross my mind but you know what, she is absolutely adorable and I actually now associate it with her and think it’s a really pretty name. People will only ever see your lovely daughter, trust me!

JayAlfredPrufrock · 22/08/2023 22:23

Lucy is meant to be one of the luckiest names.

And you can’t turn off commenting on here.

AndrewGarfieldsLaptop · 22/08/2023 22:31

It's not like she's called hitler

milkshakee · 22/08/2023 22:40

Fwiw I think you're doing the right thing not changing it.

Look at all the 'big' names that have hurt others, Ted Bundt comes to mind but look at all the little Teddies/ Teds around now.

There will be another big name constantly in the limelight soon.

I know lots of child Lucy's and wouldn't actually think of the vile killers when interacting with people.

SemperIdem · 22/08/2023 22:42

Lucy is a well used, classic name.

Rose is too - nobody thinks of Rose West

Nobody thinks of Stalin when they meet a Joseph.

Nobody thinks of Oscar Pistorius when they meet an Oscar.

Nobody thinks of Ian Brady, Ian Huntley or Ian Watkins when meeting an Ian.

Unusual names become synonymous with crimes, whether they’re the perpetrators or the victims and that can be challenging, especially for the former. There haven’t been many Myra’s since the Moors murders and I imagine Isis is no longer used much either. There is no need to change your daughters name.

margegunderson · 22/08/2023 22:44

You could change the same to almost anything and a serial killer sharing the name pop up later. Myra Hindley was a different issue because it was an unusual name to start with. Nobody knew many Myras.

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