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Baby names

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

Original poster

help with spelling needed.

37 replies

maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 09:20

My partner and i are set on the name leif for our baby boy, but we cant agree on the spelling. I thought it was Leif as in the singer, Leif Garret, but DP knows a friend who's spelling is laithe. Another friend of ours has a friend spelt laithe too. Help needed!

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Heffa · 23/05/2008 15:30

I know a Layth, pronounced Lay-th. I thought the name was Islamic when spelt like that, but I'm not sure.

Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 15:17

No it doesnt! i doubt many kids will be looking up his name!

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DisplacementActivity · 23/05/2008 15:13

Message withdrawn

Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 14:59

rowlers, i think you cant really go wrong with the laithe spelling, its pretty much as it sounds isnt it. Leif however which was how i thought it was spelt, seems to have many pronounciations.

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GrimmaTheNome · 23/05/2008 14:57

I knew a Dane called Leif. Pronounced Life. Which was ok except we had a miserablist friend whose favourite saying, muttered frequently, was 'Life's a shit'.

Rowlers · 23/05/2008 14:55

Would choosing a name like this which no-one knows how to pronounce or spell (including you!) be a bit problematic for your child?
It's clearly totally up to you but it would put me off.

Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 14:53

dont like that either, fussy bugger amn't i! no leaf's! though the meaning is qute pretty, not sure about for a boy though.

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DisplacementActivity · 23/05/2008 14:51

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Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 14:45

huraah thanks for helping me decide, three laithe's is good enough for me. And i really dont want him to be called leaf PMSL. Thanks for all the helpful posts

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3andnomore · 23/05/2008 14:44

Hm the only Leif I know is pronounced like Life...but then he is german...I do think though that that is also the scandinavian pronounciation and it is a scandinavian name....

SlackSally · 23/05/2008 12:41

I know a Laithe. Pronounced Lay-th. I think his Dad is Iranian or something like that.

Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 09:54

dp will be very smug, bugger.

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Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 09:52

ah so leif can be pronounced layf, but i doubt many people would then, thanks geek girl.

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Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 09:51

i think if kids want to bully they will regardless of name, and that most names, even the most plain, can be used to bully by children. Amazing what they can make rythme, or not even bother rythming just be nasty about!

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geekgirl · 23/05/2008 09:49

more on Leif

LemonTart · 23/05/2008 09:45

I taught 2 children called Leif - both pronounced "leaf". Maybe the spelling and the prounciation is regional? Personally I quite like "leaf" version and prefer the spelling "Leif" but maybe because I am more used to it - I think more people will say "leaf" to "Leif" and "lathe" to "Laithe"..

One teeny word of caution over it: I do remember both of the boys being bullied huge amount thanks to the name. If they were not going on about the "hippy" name (they would get "rainbow" and "storm" and "feather" etc etc as alternatives from "friends") they called one the elf because they reckoned it sounded like an elf of pixie name out of a fairytale! Also I know it was frequently mispronounced and mispelt which is frustrating for many children (coming from a person with an unusually spelt name - the "urggh?" down telephone lines when giving out your name is irritating. Saying all that - it is nice

Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 09:45

Laithe will always be pronounced LAY-th

i agree so i will go with that. We are having david for a middle name, thats abit more ordinary.

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MumRum · 23/05/2008 09:44

I think LIF has summed it up!

Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 09:44

bit of a can of worms here! i had a look and found this one:

www.babynamesworld.com/meaning_of_Laith.html

spelt laith, pronounced lah-eeth! But my DP's friends ex hubby is definately called lay-th (as in the pronouciation, its how we heard the name to begin with.

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lostinfrance · 23/05/2008 09:43

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 09:41

i dont know it was before my time! my parents are from manchester and they say lay-f for him, but who knows. I would have thought lay-f as well, because of the ei.

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geekgirl · 23/05/2008 09:41

Leif is a Scandinavian name though, pronounced life.

MrsBadger · 23/05/2008 09:40

Oh I might be wrong - I assumed it was a Gaelic name hence the nonphonetic spelling (eg Siobhan, Aoife etc) would make Laithe sound as 'Leef'

do ignore me

MumRum · 23/05/2008 09:40

wasn't Leif Garret pronounced leaf though?

Original poster
maybemaybee · 23/05/2008 09:39

layth i hope going by mrs badger!

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