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Baby names

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

Original poster

Leofric

84 replies

greekyogurtaddict · 19/02/2022 06:11

DH is very keen on this name. He has been watching/reading 'The Last Kingdom' by Bernard Cornwall and is a history enthusiast in general. The name is pronounced "Lay-off-rich' on the show with emphasis on the first syllable but I believe "Lair-frich" or "lair-vrich" is more accurate. The name sounds nothing like "Leo". I would probably be saying it "lair-frich". Has anybody met one outside of a history book to confirm this?

I actually like the sound of the name. My concern is that he will spend his entire life explaining how to pronounce his name to anyone that didn't grow up in coventry hearing the lady Godiva story regularly. Also, that it sounds a little like we are trying too hard to be different as it isn't exactly a classic anglo saxon name like Alfred or Edward and therefore sounds a bit fantasy genre.

I already have a girls name in mind thankfully!

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MumsMetHer · 19/02/2022 12:10

I know this isn't the point, but if Leofric is pronounced Lairfrich, would Eric originally have been pronounced Erich?

Classica · 19/02/2022 12:01

I wouldn't be to my taste but if it's not to your son's taste when he's old enough to have opinions on such things Leo is a very easy shortening to live with.

3peassuit · 19/02/2022 11:52

I don’t think your child will thank you for choosing it.

user1493494961 · 19/02/2022 11:47

I agree with pp, I grew up around Coventry and Leofric was always pronounced
Lee-uh-fric.

Luredbyapomegranate · 19/02/2022 11:42

I met one but he pronounced it phonetically - Lee-oh-frick. Generally called Leo.

I think the Lay-oh-Frich pronunciation will reflect Anglo Saxon pronunciation so I’d expect it to be modernised now.

So either accept the modern pronunciation (which is a perfectly fine name - much like Leopold - and likely to be shortened to Leo), or use it as a middle name.

sixtiesbaby88 · 19/02/2022 11:38

I grew up in Coventry, Lady Godiva and Leofric country! There was a posh hotel Leofric in the town centre. We all said Lee-uh-fric

BaronessBomburst · 19/02/2022 11:21

I really like it and would pronounce it Lay-o-fric or Lee-o-fric depending on which way the wind was blowing. He could always call himself Leo if he preferred.
DS is Alaric but as a middle name. I also liked Wilric.

TigerLilyTail · 19/02/2022 11:02

@HomeHomeInTheRange

Well I love it, and wish we used more Anglo Saxon names.

But it seems that society is not equipped.

In The Last Kingdom a lot of the characters have similar names. Aelswith, Aelfric, Aethelflead, Aethelred, Aethelwold. It's very confusing!
CharlesChickens · 19/02/2022 10:40

I am in two minds as I have a child with a short, very simple to pronounce, straightforward name that gets mispronounced or misspelt all the bloody time . Totally unanticipated as to me the pronunciation is obvious from the spelling, but even when she tells people her name they still mispronounce it. It is a relatively uncommon family name, but not difficult. I have met a few others, so not a total outlier.
Anyway my point is that unless you choose something very familiar then people often make mistakes with names, so having something even more unusual makes no difference.
I do agree that in this case it will probably get shortened to Leo though, (my dc have short, two syllable names but they still get shortened further by others). So if that would bother you then maybe not the name for you.

SheldontheWonderSchlong · 19/02/2022 10:34

@Firebird83

I wouldn’t use a name that has “frick” in it.
Definitely this. Isn't frick a euphemism for fuck?
TheUsualShitshow · 19/02/2022 10:22

@HomeHomeInTheRange

Well I love it, and wish we used more Anglo Saxon names.

But it seems that society is not equipped.

Not equipped Grin

I think naming trends have just changed since Anglo Saxon times.

Alfixn · 19/02/2022 10:16

Maybe because I am also Irish and see that people are capable of learning new and sometimes complicated names pretty quickly, I don't see why people are objecting so strongly here.

I've never heard of it and think it's an interesting name (and not "interesting in a bad way" as one PP stated!). I think it's a name that might suit if you were a little on the posh side (hope that's not offensive!!). Along the lines of say, Tarquin.

However the closeness to Leo, while not being pronounced the same, might make it a bit harder for people to grasp?

Mysterian · 19/02/2022 10:01

You're GIVING somebody a name. It's a gift. A present. You need to think "will THEY like it?", not whether YOU will like it.

I think it's not good. Maybe your DH should change his name to it if he likes it so much?

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 19/02/2022 10:00

Honestly MN is full of people gasping in horror at names that someone might have to tell others how to pronounce 

I know quite a few people who have names that aren't pronounced the way you'd initially think (Irish) but they only have to tell people once how it's said. I think it shows an element of laziness in not wanting to consider names that aren't absolutely commonplace or "in fashion". Some of the names suggested regularly on MN would probably be considered "try hard" and pretentious where I'm from.

Name your DC what you want and love @greekyogurtaddict if the kid really objects they can shorten to Leo or go through deed poll when they're older. They won't be scarred for life Grin

bitchinofhitchen · 19/02/2022 09:52

Leofrik of Mercia. He was often merciless he was never kind. Plus married to lady Godiva. Interesting choice

GingerScallop · 19/02/2022 09:51

I imagine him in the play ground being called Leo the Freak. Don't do this to him

HomeHomeInTheRange · 19/02/2022 09:50

Well I love it, and wish we used more Anglo Saxon names.

But it seems that society is not equipped.

Firebird83 · 19/02/2022 09:49

I wouldn’t use a name that has “frick” in it.

heidbuttsupper · 19/02/2022 09:38

Yes @TigerLilyTail cross posted!

heidbuttsupper · 19/02/2022 09:38

I love the name Lagertha due to the Viking series but it would be a ridiculous baby name

TigerLilyTail · 19/02/2022 09:37

Or Ragnar?

Fivebeanchilli · 19/02/2022 09:37

I know the name well (by which I've read it in lots of books etc) and I wouldn't have pronounced as you do.
I would have said LAY - o - frick.
I don't hate the name but I think it's a tricky one to wear. (And I do suspect he would end up Leo!)

itwasntaparty · 19/02/2022 09:35

Leo-fric

Awful. Why do that to your kid?

TigerLilyTail · 19/02/2022 09:35

I love The Last Kingdom and Leofric is a great character but I agree it's too hard for people to pronounce.

How about Osferth or Erik or Sihtric? Maybe easier to pronounce.

IglesiasPiggl · 19/02/2022 09:33

That's a very difficult name to live with. I think you should set aside your personal interests in this instance and consider the life you will be foisting on your child.

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