Opinions on Leif?

[genome]

What are people's thoughts on Leif for a boy? (Pronounced Leyf)

We don't have any Scandinavian links; we are a Greek, Dutch and British mix! Both me and DH like the name, but worry we will look a bit odd picking a name we don't have any cultural link to. DD1 has a Dutch name and dd2 has a Greek name.

I'm also not sure if people would automatically pronounce it Leaf?!

[genome]

We live in the UK btw!

[SevenOfNineTrue]

I would think of Leif Garrett the singer and the first time I saw the name I pronounced it Leaf.

[nameschangerer]

Love it. My dad was called this, but we pronounced it Leaf. He didn't seem to correct any of us, so it might be a problem until you correct people. Fact is there are a lot of names pronounced incorrectly u til you put them right so I wouldn't let that spoil the name for you.

[ALaughAMinute]

Sorry but It it sounds too much like Leaf therefore I don't like it.

[ForeverLivingMyArse]

I'm from Leith.

So no.

[genome]

We used to live in Edinburgh, so the Leith connection did occur to mean, although it is pronounced differentlunch. Unless I've been saying Leith wrong all this time....

[genome]

Me differently autocorrect!

[SagaAndMartinsLiftConvos]

I love it and wanted to use it for DS. It was top of my list. DP really didn't like it though so we didn't use it

[mrsschu]

I'd assume it was pronounced Leaf from looking at it which sounds silly IMO. I quite like the Leyf pronounciation but wouldn't use the name as most people would say Leaf I think. There are lots of names which have become international as opposed to Scandinavian/Welsh/Irish/Spanish etc. Luca, Lola, Dylan, Amelie are a few examples where it's not unusual to use these names in the UK even though you have no cultural links to the country they're originally from. There are other names which are much less usually used in the UK where I think people would assume you had roots from that country eg. Francois or some of the more obscure unusual Irish names (well maybe that's just because I'm Irish!). Leif is probably somewhere in the middle for me. I'd perhaps think you had Scandi roots but wouldn't be shocked if you didn't . But ultimately I wouldn't use it because I think most people would say Leaf such sounds hippy-ish and silly.

[AuntieStella]

I'm another in the Leif Garrett generation, so yes there is a quite a large group of people who will know how to say it. But will also associate it strongly with a fresh-faced shaggy-haired blond.

[genome]

I'm too young for Leif Garrett and just had to look him up!
My husband had similar hair when we first met and my dds are both blond and curly haired, so it might work

[PooDogMillionaire]

I'm not surer for I like it or not.. How about Liav? I have a friend with that name, it's Hebrew.

[ConesOfDunshire]

How do you pronounce Leif, then?

[genome]

It's pronounced Leyf ( says Google!), although it seems from this thread alot of people with the name pronounce it Leaf!

[candykane25]

I like it a lot.

[Awks]

oooh Leif Garrett was hottttttt

[steppemum]

It is very close in spelling and sound to the Dutch Lief meaning love. So not sure if I would use it, wouldn't it sound/look as if it was Lief spelt wrong if you have a dutch connection?

[AdorableMisfit]

I'm originally from Sweden, and this is most definitely not a name I would choose. Leif is considered an old fashioned name and I doubt you would find anyone under 50 called Leif. I guess an English equivalent would be something like Ronald, which you would be surprised to hear for a baby today. And yes, the correct pronunciation is Leyf. Well, in Sweden anyway, not sure if it's pronounced differently in Norway or Denmark.

[fluffypenguinbelly]

I think the German bug is called Leif on CBeebies and they pronounce it Leaf. That is the extent of my knowledge on the name!

[Fizrim]

I also thought of the singer straight away!

[thecatfromjapan]

I remember Leif Garrett too! One of the girls in my class was the envy of all because she'd seen him in concert while on holiday in America.
I like the choice.

[tsipka]

Love it.

[Kamalena]

Would assume it's pronounced Leaf and would find it a quite strange tbh x

[Out2pasture]

Love it, would pronounce it Leaf