I love the name Myra but...

[slummymummytobe]

does it have too many negative connotations to be used? Will it be used as an excuse for teasing?

Sorry another one here who immediately thought of Myra Hindley when I saw the post title. No way would I use it but its your choice.

Mia and Maya both lovely as alternatives.

It's a form of Mary isn't it? So you have Moya, Mhari, Marie, Marianne, Maria ('Ma-reee-ah, you've gotta see her'), Miriam ... err run out of names but am sure there are loads.

didn't expect so many responses - thank you all for your thoughts on this. Seems like it IS still contentious and I'll look for an alternative. Shame, it is a lovely name.

Instantly made me think of Hindley

How about Maria?

I couldn't, I'm normally tres open minded on names but I really just could not do it.

I'm sure satan was a great and popular name before that naughty bloke got hold of it and kind of ruined it for us all

I wouldn't use it. Not a nice name anyway imho. It would be like calling a baby Adolf. Lyra much nicer.

my mother in law is myra, must admit that she was under myra hindly in my mobile for quite a long time

What about Kyra?

I don't think other kids will have heard of Myra Hindley as they are not of the era,so I don't think your poor little girl will be teased as such. But I think it's a bloody awful idea go for Kyra.

Like calling a boy Adolf

I agree it is a beautiful name and ofcourse it depends on your associations. I associate it with my wonderful kind dinnerlady who used to hold my grubby little hand at lunch time.She was the real Myra to me and the name had totally different connotations even though it was the 70s.
Also like Mia though,almost identical but without the bad stuff!

I think in 20 yrs it will be ok.

Well her friends/peers won't think anything of it. But you as a parent don't want your friends/peers to think wtf is she doing calling a child Myra. Maxine is another name I wouldn't touch.

I prefer Meryl, like Streep. I also quite like Myrtle and Beryl. I've got realllllly old lady taste.

I'm not even from this country or was around 20 years ago but the thing that jump straight to my mind was Hindley

Lovely, lovely name...BUT its too seen to use it, maybe by the next generations memories will have faded and Hindley will be far back enough in history.

I never thought 'Hindley' until I opened this post. I've known a Myra for six years and I never once made the association.

I realise I'm only 32.

Also, I know different people with the same name and somehow they seem like different names because of their different personalities and character. Maybe that's just me .....

I thought 'Hindley' straight away unfortunately and I am in early 30's too.

Think it will be at least another 40 (not 20) years before the remains of the negative association goes away.

Yama, tbh, I don't think your precise age matters, whether you're 32, 42, 52.... Myra Hindley is a name that all British adults are familiar with. I'm Irish, and I thought 'Hindley' before I clicked on the thread.

Yes, apologies for mentioning my age.

I guess my real point is that a person's personality makes their name their own. Of course, I know that is only in my opinion.

I like the name Myra too but couldn't use it for all those reasons. Happily I absolutely adore Philip Pullman books so DD is Lyra instead.

i like kyra sedgwick. i'd go for that.

I went to school with a lovely Kyra. Kyra doesn't make me think of Myra at all (if you know what I mean).

I'd definitely consider Mira as in 'The Women's Room'.

I live near Saddleworth Moors, & dh & I creeped ourselves out spectacularly driving across them late one night quite recently. If ever a place was haunted...

Couldn't use the Myra spelling myself. Agree it's irrational, but just...no.

I know a Kaira to rhyme with Myra. Her mum is German so spelling it with a Y would sound weird in German.