The name Lucy

[Stayawa]

I’m not so much naming a baby, but thought this was the best place to discuss! I have a wonderful 8 year old Lucy - I have always loved the name and knew I wanted to name a DD by that name if I had one as soon as I heard it as a child… and I still do love it- I associate it with Lucy from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe…it’s pretty, timeless, classic and all the Lucy’s I have known have been strong, intelligent women. Until the bloody Lucy Letby trial! I’m suddenly paranoid that the name is now tainted and I’ve saddled her with it, like, you don’t hear of kids called Myra do you?! Or is it a popular and classic enough name to weather it…thoughts everyone? (Btw I know this is a very petty first world problem)…

I think this is only an issue with an unusual name. I know loads of Lucys and didn’t connect them at all with Letby until thinking about it for this thread. Don’t worry!

My sister is called Lucy and I didn’t make this connection until your post so kindly, you’re overthinking it

Lucy is fine as a name. It’s not weird enough to stand out.

I wouldn't worry its common enough to not only be linked to Lucy Letby. You still hear of plenty of babies called Rose

It's fine, OP! I mean, if I was having a baby over the next few weeks I probably wouldn't choose it, but I don't think the name will forever be associated with LL. Plus, it's actually a lovely name.

There are lots of bad people, all of whom have names... there would be a small pool of names to choose from.

I have a Lucy, only 6 months and was thinking the same this but I think it's probably a common enough name that it's not strong association

I don't think there were ever lots of Myras. That name is so linked to her because of it being unfamiliar before, Lucy is much of a bog standard type name. Many people will have encountered it previously.

Peter Sutcliffe, Ian Huntley even Jack the Ripper haven't impacted those names.

Tbh, Mumsnet is obsessed with Lucy Letby but outside of that I've not heard anyone talking about it much at all.

@crochetcrazy1978 yes I thought of Rose! Tbh this was kind of inspired by another thread where a poster was deciding between Lucy and Hazel and the consensus was Lucy was not useable now and will drop out of the rankings. Thanks - overthinking then 😅. To be clear I still love the name, don’t regret it and am not thinking of doing anything crazy like changing it by deed pole 🤪

I have a lucy age 14. I was thinking the same too but she hasnt a clue who lucy letby is . I nearly said it to her yesterday about that psychopath but thought better of it. Its a lovely name.

DC has a Myra in their class. Lovely girl and my first thought when we met was 'lovely name' - association did not cross my mind until you just mentioned

I think you are oversensitive. It's a common classic name. I doubt anyone will call a baby Lucy for a while but names come and go in fashion and its not an unusual name that could be so heavily associated with one person, like Myra. Or Madeline.

I have a child with 2 common names and I'm sure I could think of people with those names that have done bad things throughout history (Stalin for example) but my dc aren't named after them.

You’ve really not heard anyone talk about the Letby case much? Everyone I know talks about it. My own DC -grown up- have talked about it a lot. It’s the major topic in the news.

I wouldn't worry about the name Lucy - it's still a lovely name. I say this as someone who has a DS called Jimmy.

Thanks every one for the perspective! I think as well, it is a common name, but where I live in the UK not that common - she’s the only one in her school as far as I know and I’ve only come across a couple of little Lucys (which was another reason I picked it actually!)!

It’s an ultra common name so no one will make the connection. Freddie is ultra popular despite Fred West, Rose/Rosa/Rosie the same. Myra is only questionable because it’s not an ultra common moniker.

It's fine OP.

I haven't heard much about LL outside MN either tbh.

There’s also super Lucies like Lucy Bronze. If I met a Rose or Fred I wouldn’t think anything of it.

I think the advice was intended for those having a baby this year. For example it would have been advisable not to call your child Ted the year Ted Bundy went to trial. It's a very common and timeless name so you've nothing to worry about!

Imagine how horrible it is being called Karen

Im a big fan of Lucy Worsley the historian as well…she embodies ‘Lucy-ness’ for me. Letby doesn’t deserve such a nice name

Good for all people not to judge others on names only. Whether that's India, Lucy, Ruby, Margaret. Sometimes people forget that on here

(Myself included)

I think you're overthinking it but I do get why.

The name will almost certainly drop in popularity for a while at least because it's temporarily under a cloud but I don't think it'll follow anyone around for life.

Maybe to be avoided by parents with an L surname but it's such a common name I really don't think it's going to affect anyone hugely long term.

I wouldn't think of Lucy Letby if I heard the name Lucy. It's a common enough name.

Also, the nurse is known as "lucyletby" rather than just Lucy. I might avoid using the name Lucy alongside a surname that sounds similar to Letby - Lucy Letterly, for instance - but otherwise I think it's fine.

Of the classics the name Lucy has a somewhat cutesy feel to it. I think it's the sweetness, in combination with the heinous actions of Lucy Letby, who was often regarded as amiable and charming but was actually phony coupled with the repetitive sound of her last name is what makes it distasteful. Most Lucys carry their name beautifully. Be grateful that it isn't an uncommon or less traditional name. Anyone writing off the name Lucy is being silly. It's a bloody name! (Though admittedly if I was having a daughter this year I wouldn't use it because it's so close to the sentencing and the papers will be plastered with her name for a few months.)