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Baby names

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

Original poster

Leigh

121 replies

remdrem · 31/12/2025 14:07

Thoughts on Leigh for a little girl please?

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HugoYorway · 01/01/2026 12:45

Lila would be said as Lye-la, Liana is a jungle plant.

Leigh and Lee are often registered as the second part of hyphenated first names. There were 4 girls registered as Harper-Lee and 3 registered as Heaven-Leigh in 2024.

Saisong · 01/01/2026 12:34

I quite like it, has a nice sound and quite retro.

Can also be spelt Lea which is pretty (though that can also be pronounced like Leah)

Witcherwitcher · 01/01/2026 12:21

I would choose a name with the phonetic sound Lee in it. There is a town up North called Leigh. I wouldn’t spell my child's name Leigh the same as this town.

Mydadsbirthday · 01/01/2026 11:36

I'm not keen but I love Leah

goldtrap · 01/01/2026 11:34

I think it works for a girl, with that spelling. It's kind of cute. In the US it would be quite a classy name

awrbc81 · 01/01/2026 11:30

I don’t really like it but it’s not terrible either (also not that keen on Lee for a boy)

Leah or Leia is nicer for a girl

Pettenell · 01/01/2026 11:26

I know a woman called Leigh, (pronounced Lee), in her fifties. I like it, but it is very unusual for a little one. It has a sweet simplicity though.

LighthouseLED · 31/12/2025 18:04

I’ve only ever known men and boys with that name. I don’t mind it, but would probably go for Ashleigh or Kayleigh for a girl and use Leigh for short.

ginasevern · 31/12/2025 18:01

It's not unpleasant but personally I'd much prefer it for a boy. Why not Leah, which is short and sweet.

RuthW · 31/12/2025 17:31

Leigh is the common spelling for females. I know a 30 year old Leigh. It’s ok.

Forestanimal · 31/12/2025 16:58

I don’t like Leigh.
The following names could all be shortened to Lee and all really pretty though:
Leah
Leonie
Lila (pronounced leela)
Liana (pronounced lee-ah-na)

Moreteaandchocolate · 31/12/2025 16:50

I’m not a huge fan, but it’s ok as a nn for Leona / Leonie etc

Lemonlimonade · 31/12/2025 16:46

HugoYorway · 31/12/2025 16:35

@Lemonlimonade , plough, rough, tough, through, slough, although, thought, ought, dough,....

Those are all -ough and not -eigh sounds Hmm

HugoYorway · 31/12/2025 16:35

@Lemonlimonade , plough, rough, tough, through, slough, although, thought, ought, dough,....

Lemonlimonade · 31/12/2025 16:24

HugoYorway · 31/12/2025 15:27

It doesn't start with %eigh though. You could say the same about words starting with Ley.

Leigh does start with the vowels -eigh in the first syllable.

Just like Neigh, Weigh, Sleigh etc, hence why I assumed it’s pronounced Leigh or Lay.

CheeseNinja · 31/12/2025 16:03

I know a woman called Leigh. She’s lovely.

Bones75 · 31/12/2025 15:59

I know two Leigh's both males and in their 50's

LlynTegid · 31/12/2025 15:27

I wouldn't. Leigh reminds me of Leigh Francis aka Keith Lemon who must have some serious dirt on a tv executive to still ever be on anything- he is probably the second least funny so-called comedian after Brendan O'Connell.

HugoYorway · 31/12/2025 15:27

It doesn't start with %eigh though. You could say the same about words starting with Ley.

Lemonlimonade · 31/12/2025 15:23

HugoYorway · 31/12/2025 14:23

Have you not come across women/girls with names like Ashleigh and Kayleigh?

Show quote history

I have, but most words that begin with Eigh are pronounced AY. Neigh 🐴 or Neighbour or Eight or Sleigh or Weigh. Hence Leigh being pronounced Lay!

LilacFinch81 · 31/12/2025 14:38

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BoleynMemories13 · 31/12/2025 14:37

Very dated (same as Lee for a boy). I quite like Leah, but Leigh is dull.

HugoYorway · 31/12/2025 14:32

@Nannyogganny, Probably was but both Leigh and Lee have been used for women. I know a male Lea ('Lee') and people with the surname Lea ('Lee').

I know Leah is from the Bible but I'm not keen. I never know if it's Lee-a or Ley-a.

aloysiuswasabear · 31/12/2025 14:32

I’m mid 50’s and my name is Lee. I have hated it from I was old enough to have an opinion. To this day, I am embarrassed when I have to tell people my name. There are beautiful names you could pick from, please don’t saddle your DD with Leigh/Lee.

Mydogisagentleman · 31/12/2025 14:29

I think that it's quite dated.
I was born in 1964.
Virtually every other girl was Lea/Tracy/Debbie/Joanne and there were quite a lot of boys called Lee