Myra?

[theinterest]

My DH and I thought we were settled on the name Myra for our baby due later this year, but having been settled on this for several months I’m not sure how others will view it? Neither of us are into crime type media, early 30s, and live in the south of England so somehow managed to miss the connection to Myra Hindley until now. My DH is still completely set on it, but I worry now what others will think (blame the hormones). Lyra isn’t an option for us due to a close friends baby being called that earlier this year.

I’m really after view in what you all think? I love the name but now doubting if it’s the right thing to use!

Don't do it - I thought Hindley!!!

It’s unusable.

Honestly, like calling your baby Adolf.

I wasn’t expecting this thread to be quite so one sided :(

No, just no. I’m 30’s but recognised the name immediately as Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. They were child muderers and sadistically cruel. There’s still mysteries in the case with the missing victim so I don’t think it’s a useable name at all.

Ah, no, you can’t call your baby Myra. The name will forever be linked to child abuse and murder. Why would you saddle your child with that? It’s like Hitler and Judas… their deeds will never be forgotten.

My first thought was Hindley. It’s an unusual name so it stands out. What about Mira? Pronounced mih rather than my.
Also, I’m in the south west - it’s not a northern only connection.

It's enough decades ago it's fine, and only relevant to English people. By the time the baby is an adult, the people who remember the news are going to be really old. If you live somewhere with a lot of immigrants, it's even more fine. No one doesn't use the name Jack because of the ripper

Team no way here I'm afraid. How about Mylie or Maura?

Ian is still used though. What about Mary?

I think it'll be a good 20/30 years before the association goes.

This name should be banned by registrars

Do you think the same about Ian, just out of interest?

It’s hardly equivalent to Jack. Jack has literally hundreds of other associations. Myra very few others as it’s a much less common name so most people will immediately think of Hindley.

You don’t have to be English to think of The Moors Murders either. I’m not and with the proliferation of true crime podcasts and shows it’s likely to reach a whole new audience.

I’m so sorry OP but it is unusable. A shame, but Myra Hindley is really unlikely to disappear from the public consciousness within the next generation.

Mara, Mila, Morna, Maura, Mona, Maryam/Miriam, Maya, Dinah, Lilah?

Yep, you cannot name a child Myra.

Lyra is a prettier choice

They are both very common names with multiple other associations and many people will know a Mary or Ian. It’s really not the same as the much less common Myra.

I love the name, always have but agree with others, it's still unusable.

I’m mid 30s and heard Hindley straight away. In an area local ish to the murders but it’s not like it’s talked about nowadays. I’m not usually one to say don’t do it wrt names, but I wouldn’t (and I have a kid with the same name as a grocery product).

Too soon.

Maybe in a couple of decades it would be ok, but too many people alive will make the connection. It’s a shame because I like the name.

40, not local to the area and my first thought was Hindley.
How about Myla OP?

Nope. There are new books, podcasts, documentaries and dramas about the Moors Murders every year, it’s a world famous case. Keith Bennett is still missing on the moors and there are ongoing campaigns to find him. The association with the name Myra is permanent.

Thanks everyone, looks like we need to go back to the drawing board! Is been helpful to test with you all as we don’t want to share the name in advance with family and friends

It's a big fat No from me.

I love this name. It was my nan’s middle name and my mum’s. I don’t think it works for a first name though x

Hmm, my mother knows a Myra in her 70s. I don’t think she’s ever mentioned the murderer connection and I’d not thought of it until this thread.

I think it might be ok. Right now everyone is leaping to Myra Hindley as the connection but is that just because there isn’t another person they can envisage which obviously won’t be the case for those who will meet your daughter in real life? Also names which are similar eg Maya, Mia, Myla, Lyra have become v popular so Myra won’t stand out against those.

So, if you love it then I would go for it. I do think you’ll get a lot of people asking if you had heard of Myra Hindley but I don’t think it’s as taboo a name as others on the thread feel it is.