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Original poster

Would this association put you off?

33 replies

PurpleVioletBlue · 05/07/2022 14:53

I've just been watching The Lost Daughter on Netflix and the main character is called Leda (Lay-da). I think it's a beautiful name, but I've just been reading about it's origins in Greek mythology- do you know the origin of the name and, if so, would the association put you off? Do you like the name? Know any? Thanks!

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Luredbyapomegranate · 06/07/2022 00:07

She was raped by a swan!

You don’t want that image in people’s heads when they’re talking to your daughter.

Noticingb · 05/07/2022 23:49

VeryQuaintIrene · 05/07/2022 21:03

Mind you, she was Helen of Troy's mother, and of the twins in Gemini, Castor and Pollux, so there's that!

Perhaps we shouldn’t define or minimise the woman to just her abuse and ignore the many other things she did!

LaFeuilleMorte · 05/07/2022 22:08

I’d definitely associate it immediately with the unfortunate victim of rape by the swan-bodied manifestation of Zeus. Anyone who has studied the classics, classical civilisation or art history would say the same.

Shinyandnew1 · 05/07/2022 22:05

Autienotnaughtie · 05/07/2022 21:23

It's a character in a book I read in my teens maybe a Norma Klien book. In my head I read it as Lee-da. I like it tho.

Yes-that’s what I was thinking of! I think it was a Pan Horizon teen sex book-a but like Forever!??

FilePhoto · 05/07/2022 21:58

Primatrying · 05/07/2022 21:01

Sorry to hijack but I was sure it was Leda! Just googled and almost everywhere says Leta, was it changed at some point?! I'd swear it was Leda when I first heard about her!

My first thought was Lestrange too!
I like the name.
I assume it's pronounced Lee-da.

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I'm 99.9% certain she was always Leta. But unless I can remember when/ where she's first mentioned I can't check.

Autienotnaughtie · 05/07/2022 21:23

It's a character in a book I read in my teens maybe a Norma Klien book. In my head I read it as Lee-da. I like it tho.

SausageAndCash · 05/07/2022 21:12

The Yeats poem Leda and the Swan is a visceral description of rape and I have found it disturbing since I studied it at University.

I have always heard it pronounced ‘Layda’.

VeryQuaintIrene · 05/07/2022 21:03

Mind you, she was Helen of Troy's mother, and of the twins in Gemini, Castor and Pollux, so there's that!

Primatrying · 05/07/2022 21:01

FilePhoto · 05/07/2022 20:14

She's called Leta not Leda.

@PurpleVioletBlue I've never heard it but I like it. Off to research the story now.

Show quote history

Sorry to hijack but I was sure it was Leda! Just googled and almost everywhere says Leta, was it changed at some point?! I'd swear it was Leda when I first heard about her!

My first thought was Lestrange too!
I like the name.
I assume it's pronounced Lee-da.

daisypond · 05/07/2022 20:54

Leda and the swan. It’s a really famous story. It’s the only Leda I’ve heard of. I’d say Lee-da. One of the many raped-by-gods women from the myths.

DuesToTheDirt · 05/07/2022 20:35

I wouldn't use it due to the connotations. Raped by a swan. Never heard of any other Leda.

TheHallouminati · 05/07/2022 20:35

I think it's beautiful and classic.

And don't spell it Lay-da, totally undermines the elegance of the name. Anyone with any sense will know how to pronounce it.

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 05/07/2022 20:31

Wouldn't teen boys just claim to have Lay da..?

Enko · 05/07/2022 20:30

I know the story I know 1 she is in her 40s and pronounces it Lee dah

Shedcity · 05/07/2022 20:19

I would’ve assumed it was leeda

Sorry to be childish but if you pronounce it layda
it’s like laid as in laid a swan

but depends where you are - round here I doubt the Greek classics would come up a lot for sex/rape jokes maybe that’s a bit too high brow

pimlicoanna · 05/07/2022 20:15

I think the issue here is that everyone would pronounce it lee-da not lay-da

FilePhoto · 05/07/2022 20:14

Aspidistra1 · 05/07/2022 19:59

Lovely name, think it’s completely useable.
My first association though was Harry Potter - Leda Lestrange. Minor character though.
JKR uses lots of classical names.

She's called Leta not Leda.

@PurpleVioletBlue I've never heard it but I like it. Off to research the story now.

Potstip · 05/07/2022 20:12

I quite like it, though did think of lederhosen

VeryQuaintIrene · 05/07/2022 20:05

Like others, I instantly thought of the swan, not to mention WB Yeats' poem on it. Personally, I wouldn't saddle her with this even though it is a pretty name in itself.

waveyourpompoms · 05/07/2022 20:03

I wouldn’t have any association but would say Leeda.

ChagSameachDoreen · 05/07/2022 20:02

Leda and the Swan.

Not the best connotation!

Aspidistra1 · 05/07/2022 19:59

Lovely name, think it’s completely useable.
My first association though was Harry Potter - Leda Lestrange. Minor character though.
JKR uses lots of classical names.

AppleCharlottie · 05/07/2022 19:57

Yes, I know the origin, mainly because of the poem 'Leda and the Swan' by Yeats.

Fifthtimelucky · 05/07/2022 16:53

I know the story and would pronounce it Layda. It wouldn't put me off.

SpaceJamtart · 05/07/2022 16:07

I don't know the story but I would pronounce Leda as Lay-da.

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