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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Is Leila too popular?

59 replies

Rebelwithallthecause · 25/09/2020 22:38

Husbands top choice

I quite like Nina. Leila is lovely but it needs to be pronounced Lee-la and would hate for people to mispronounce it Lay-la

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Sickoffamilydrama · 26/09/2020 09:15

All names get mispronounced, misheard and misspelt.
OP I love the name it has a real lilting quality.

I have a used to be unusual name that is four letters it's really simple to spell I still get people adding in a y or an n or mishearing and calling me different. My son is 3 letters and still has people either mishearing or adding letters

40blah1 · 26/09/2020 09:10

I don’t think it’s too popular (I only know one teenage Leila), but - like the majority - would instinctively pronounce it Lay-la.

Maybe call her Leela? That’s a name in itself.

Nina is a great name also.

RHOBHfan · 26/09/2020 09:05

Laila is another option and is pronounced Lie-la, which I think is nicer than Leila (Lay-la)

ConfusedConfused

I know two Laila's, both pronounced Lay-la!

emilybrontescorsett · 26/09/2020 08:58

I agree about Alicia too. I really like Al- i-see-ah but don’t like Al-ee-sha. Too much room to error.

NotExactlyMrsCurrentAffairs · 26/09/2020 08:57

My niece is Leila pronounced Leela.
She's the only one I know.
I know more Laila's

AnnaSW1 · 26/09/2020 08:46

I'd pronounce it Layla too. And spell it this way if I heard the name.

CaffiSaliMali · 26/09/2020 08:40

I used to know a Leila who pronounced it Leela.

Some people did try and pronounce it as Layla though.

I think your DH may find it frustrating if Leila is constantly being pronounced Layla and he needs to consider how much that will bother him.

I have crossed Alicia (a liss ee a) off my list as 'Aleesha' will drive me potty and I also know an Alicia who hated it being pronounced Aleesha.

emilybrontescorsett · 26/09/2020 08:32

I wouldn’t use it. Too much room for error. Nobody knows how to pronounce it or spell it, don’t inflict this on your dd.
I assume your dh has an ordinary, easy to say easy to spell name.

DeathMetalMum · 26/09/2020 08:31

Dd is 7 in her class she has a Layla, Lola, Leela and Lyla. All very similar sounding names.

PlantPotting · 26/09/2020 08:28

I prefer Leila to Nina but like both

YellowShed · 26/09/2020 08:22

'Leela' is what you want I think. Leila will be pronounced 'Layla'
Or Nina is fabulous.

WeEE · 26/09/2020 03:28

I don't know any Leila's.

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the name Nina. I really wanted to call our Daughter it, but partner knew someone from school called it and he hated it. Gutted. Nina is lovely.

calimommy · 26/09/2020 03:26

Laila is another option and is pronounced Lie-la, which I think is nicer than Leila (Lay-la)

Lockdownfatigue · 25/09/2020 23:50

I know two girls called Leila. Both pronounced the same as Layla. I have never heard Lee-la before. I do also know a Layla and a Leilah. All pronounced the same.

sorryforswearing · 25/09/2020 23:44

I’d pronounce Leila as Lie La.

Sickoffamilydrama · 25/09/2020 23:14

My siblings and I were those children to now my name is more common so I get to by tat if I want to 😉.

I know two Leila's a Lay La & a Lee La it's a great name.

DennisTMenace · 25/09/2020 23:10

I would definitely pronounce it Layla. Seeing as at least half the other posters would too, you might want to really think about the spelling as you have been very emphatic that you don't want it pronounced that way. I guarantee that all Leila's that say Layla get called Leela a lot too, can't win.

ButterflyRuns · 25/09/2020 23:09

I've only ever known it to be pronounced Lay-la apart from once

Notgoingonholiday · 25/09/2020 23:08

Rebel at least you'll be able to sympathise Grin. And possibly more likely to find a 'Leila' mug/Christmas decoration abroad too!

Original poster
Rebelwithallthecause · 25/09/2020 23:01

@Notgoingonholiday Grin
I was that child too

Oh the excitement when I’d be in another country and spot some random tat in a gift shop with my name on!

OP posts:
Notgoingonholiday · 25/09/2020 22:55

I would point out that you will be condemning your child to a lifetime of not being able to find personalised key rings and door name plates in gift shops...go for it if you can stand the moaning....16 years on Grin

FizzingWhizzbee123 · 25/09/2020 22:55

What about Lila/Lilah or Lyra?

Notgoingonholiday · 25/09/2020 22:54

I have a Laila, (Layla). I would pronounce Leila, Leela. I don't think either name is too popular, tho my Laila is 16 so can't be too sure on current popularity!

FizzingWhizzbee123 · 25/09/2020 22:53

Every Leila I’ve known has pronounced it Layla. Most people will assume that pronunciation. I think you’d need to spell it Leela or something to stop a lifetime of mispronunciation (like the whole Mia/Mya debacle).

Garcellesaidwhaaat · 25/09/2020 22:50

I pronounce Leila Lay-la but have heard it said Lie-la and Lee-la.

It's currently in the top 50. That's only too popular if you think it's too popular.
Do you?