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!

No, sorry. What about Maria?

I also associate it with Hindley, sorry. However my kids (teens) would have no idea who MH was. I doubt they’ve ever heard of her. Similarly people in my team at work in their late twenties, I would also bet have never heard the name in that context. The demographic on here tends to be older. People of my generation (I’m 48), so perhaps it’s time to start using the name again. It’s a pretty name. If you really like it and don’t mind people ( people my age or older) raising an eyebrow then go for it. Eventually no one will care.

My immediate thought was absolutely not because of Myra Hindley. Then I remembered my DD has a friend called Myra and I've never before now thought about the connection there. If you go for it, I'm not sure people will connect your toddler, child, teenager to Hindley. She'll just be herself.

I honestly wouldn't and I'm Irish and got the awful Hindley connection immediately.. Sorry OP, I know what it's like being pregnant and very attached to a particular name! 'Moira' is an Irish name meaning Mary but might work instead?

I thought of Myra McQueen from Hollyoaks before Myra Hindley came into my head. Hindley wasn't even the first Myra on Google.

Also my niece has a friend called Myra. Parents aren’t English. No one bats an eyelid. My old next door neighbour was also a Myra. Again, a non event.

What about Mayra (may-ruh) spelling and pronounce (mayruh) slightly similar but not Myra

Theres also Myla, Moira, Kyra, Maya?

I thought of Hindley immediately. I don't know if younger people would make the same connection though.

Amazed you've never of Hindley - probably the most detested woman in Britain in the last century. No way would I burden a child with that name.

This makes you sounds slightly uneducated.

I wasn’t around during the Second World War, but have heard of Hitler.

OP, what about Isla?

Reminds me straight away of Hindley, sorry. Mya, Maya, Anya, Myla are all similar and cute too.

This. The first thing that popped into my head was 'Hindley'. Others will think the same.

I don’t see the issue personally? OP isn’t naming her daughter after the murderer.

Myra is ranked 377 in the UK at the moment so you’re certainly not alone in liking the name, OP! 114 were born in 2024.

Don’t do it to her, op. That name will be infamous forever.

We were talking about thus only last week, how you just wouldn't use certain names, such as Myra, because its sn unusual name to start with it stands out abd us synonymous with Myra Hindley. Rose (West) is still commonly used as its not an unusual name i imagine.

I really don't think Hitler and Hindley are equal in terms of name recognition 🙄

Sorry Op but I Hindley is the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear Myra. Although I’m not quite sure why, I don’t automatically think of west when I hear Rose. Perhaps it’s because Myra isn’t a particularly common name and there isn’t really any other well known Myra’s in public life and the only well known person called Myra is unfortunately Myra Hindley.

I didn’t say I hadn’t heard of her and no need for the personal criticism.

I said it wasn’t my immediate association. And I wondered if my age / location was a reason I was having a different reaction to most of the horrified people on the thread.

Awful

That's a matter of opinion isn't it?

I'd choose Myra over Maria!

Absolutely not.

Yeah, sorry, but you do.

Millions of names, you'll find another you love that doesn't have nasty associations.

🌷

what else did you both like, but not love. So we have a better idea of the type of name you like.

i don't like it myself (due to a specific person) but objectively Moira is fairly close & a nice name.

I'm old so it's my era and it is the first thing I thought of

I know 2 Myras. One is Hindley. The other is a resident in my Grandfathers nursing home and she’s just turned 105.

It wouldn’t be one for me that’s for sure.

@theinterest Well I must be strange because I thought of Myra Murray (a character from the Anne of Green Gables series.)