Mumsnet Talk

Pronounced Laya?

No

I love it but will always think of Star Wars.

I'm afraid a gold bikini is what jumps straight into my mind, sorry.

And that earphone hairstyle.

Laya sounds too much like layer - a good hen, or something you have cut into your hair.

How about Leah?

mmmm, I don't know, it's pretty but I've never even seen starwars and it's still all I can think of when I hear Leia.

Star Wars immediately.

Go for Leah instead

My dd is lea pronounced laya so i love it. Never get starwars comments but often called leah. We have family in greece n italy and this is their spelling and pronunciation.

Fab name!

It's a lingerie shop

Leah is not nice at all, it sounds the same as leer.

Quite like it, and not to over used either.

Lovely

Very very nice and a little unusual without being weird

Ignore the star wars stuff - the character was a strong confident heroine - nothing wrong with that

Dont like it, sorry. Pronounced 'Laya' its just another word not a name.

Prefer Leah or Layla.

I thought there are names out there like Naia, Maya, Kaia (Cindy Crawford's daughter) so why not Leia? Then I googled it and realised it was the name from Star Wars so I wanted some further opinions.

I like it. It's similar to Leila / Layla without actually being Leila / Layla.

And it's quite cute that the little girl could be called Princess Leia!

It's fine, so long as you don't mind everyone thinking Star Wars.

And she was one of the good characters anyway.

There is a huge world of obsessive Star Wars geeks out there. If you only knew about Princess Leia after googling, then I take it you are oblivious to this. But please be warned, you really are taking on a lot if you use a name that only really came into being via this film.

My niece is a Leia. We initially thought she was called Leah, as her dh has Jewish heritage, and then were a bit because of Star Wars. However the connection soon wore off (she's 12) and I don't think it's caused her any issues. Leia did exist as a name pre Star Wars too.

Leia is at the top of my shortlist at the moment, I love it and don't mind the star wars connection at all but am slightly concerned about being judged by more fanatical friends and family of ours who might tease us for naming our child Leia! Thoughts? :S

Spell it Leah. Said same way but avoids 1970s princess connotations.
Only problem is I can't get the pronunciation straight (Lee-uh or Lay-uh, sorry, am pants); chronic problem with DD's friend Leah.