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Original poster

Opinions on Leif?

34 replies

genome · 05/02/2016 08:58

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?!

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SquirrelledAway · 08/02/2016 16:38

IMDB reports that Leif Garrett's name was always pronounced wrongly:

There has long been confusion as to the correct pronunciation of Leif's name. At the beginning of the 2010 VH1 program, "Leif Garrett: Behind the Music Remastered", Leif himself says, "For the record, it's layf, long a.".

WickedWax · 08/02/2016 15:13

We know a Leif, it's pronounced Life (in Denmark - or at least that's how he pronounces it).

I think in the UK you're going to spend a lot of time correcting people who think it's leaf.

GummyBunting · 08/02/2016 15:13

Love it, used it for a much loved pet years ago. Pronounced it Layf, but a lot of people didn't really get it.

IamCarcass · 08/02/2016 15:11

I had a bit if a love / hate / crush on one once so think it's great name :) He was Norwegian and pronounced it 'Life'

Pipilangstrumpf · 08/02/2016 15:08

I like Leif and would pronounce it Life (unless told otherwise)

HumbleCrumble · 08/02/2016 13:18

I think it's quite cute but you probably would get quite a lot of people pronouncing it differently.

There was a story about a boy called Leif in the Roald Dahl book the Witches, we had an audiobook of it on tape when we were young and the narrator pronounced it Leaf. That was the only place I'd ever heard it before.

NinjaLeprechaun · 07/02/2016 10:55

"And yes, the correct pronunciation is Leyf. Well, in Sweden anyway, not sure if it's pronounced differently in Norway or Denmark."
I met a Norwegian named Leif once, years ago, who made it sound like Life. Although in theory that could have been an issue of accent.
I'm in the US and would personally say Leyf. As in Leif Ericsson, the first European to discover North America.

WhiskyTangoFoxtrot · 07/02/2016 10:47

AdorableMisfit "Leif is considered an old fashioned name and I doubt you would find anyone under 50 called Leif."

Leif Garrett was born in 1961, so is 54.

NOOOOO!! How did that happen. He's a boyish pop star, permanently 17. Not a quinquagenarian with naff dated name.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 07/02/2016 09:07

I read it as 'leyf'

Sounds cute/different/European...

Out2pasture · 07/02/2016 03:05

Love it, would pronounce it Leaf

Kamalena · 07/02/2016 01:52

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

tsipka · 07/02/2016 01:32

Love it.

thecatfromjapan · 06/02/2016 22:46

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.

Fizrim · 06/02/2016 22:45

I also thought of the singer straight away!

fluffypenguinbelly · 06/02/2016 22:42

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!

AdorableMisfit · 06/02/2016 22:37

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.

steppemum · 06/02/2016 22:16

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?

Awks · 06/02/2016 22:10

oooh Leif Garrett was hottttttt

candykane25 · 06/02/2016 22:08

I like it a lot.

Original poster
genome · 06/02/2016 22:02

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

OP posts:
ConesOfDunshire · 06/02/2016 18:10

How do you pronounce Leif, then?

PooDogMillionaire · 06/02/2016 09:30

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

Original poster
genome · 05/02/2016 12:44

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 Grin

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 05/02/2016 10:34

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.

mrsschu · 05/02/2016 10:14

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 Smile. But ultimately I wouldn't use it because I think most people would say Leaf such sounds hippy-ish and silly.

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