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Baby names

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

Leif

26 replies

bac1985 · 18/09/2014 11:23

Leif Frederick Coughlin

Pronounced LAFE.

What are your thoughts?

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cherrybombxo · 18/09/2014 11:34

I knew a Leif, but he was German. I thought it was really pretty but I'm not sure about it on a British person.

milkjetmum · 18/09/2014 11:36

I like it, but you will have to be prepared to correct everyone on the pronunciation (I would have said LEAF if I saw it written down)

AuntieStella · 18/09/2014 11:37

For my generation, the immediate association is Leif Garrett

UriGeller · 18/09/2014 11:39

It's exceptionally brilliant. I love it.

steppemum · 18/09/2014 11:52

Leif is the dutch word for love.
That is what it makes me think of.
I would pronounce it leaf

scarletforya · 18/09/2014 11:55

I absolutely love it.

(Leif Garrett was an early crush)

Legionofboom · 18/09/2014 12:17

I'm still not 100% clear on how to pronounce it.

La-fee
Laff
something else.

As others have said I would have guessed it was pronounced leaf.

NewEraNewMindset · 18/09/2014 12:19

I don't recognise it as a name personally, though I accept it is! I would pronounce it leaf if I saw it.

bouncinbean · 18/09/2014 12:21

Like the name but it will be mispronounced by everyone the first time they read his name so he will always be correcting people.
Would a Laif spelling work as I don't think that would have the same issues?

SweetsForMySweet · 18/09/2014 12:21

I would have thought it was leaf also. I think he is going to go through life with a lot of people mis-pronouncing and mis-spelling it which could be frustrating

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 18/09/2014 12:25
bac1985 · 18/09/2014 14:25

Maybe spelt Laif.

Which sounds/looks better? Leif or Laif?

OP posts:
surroundedbyblondes · 18/09/2014 14:28

Leif where I live (scandinavia) is pronounced lay-ff

Love in dutch is lief (i & e the other way round)

turkeyboots · 18/09/2014 14:33

Leif is pronounced "life" in many parts of Europe.

grufallosfriend · 18/09/2014 14:51

Leif is a great name. Fairly popular in Germanic countries and pronounced 'Life'.

milkjetmum · 18/09/2014 19:18

Leiv? Pronounced leave?

PinkSquash · 18/09/2014 19:19

I knew of a little boy with that name, he had a German parent. It's a lovely name.

punygod · 18/09/2014 19:27

Well, he'll be born, born, born, born, born to be alive, that's for sure.

RoseyHope · 18/09/2014 19:34

I've always pronounced it 'life'; I love it though!

squeak2392 · 18/09/2014 19:34

RE pn, for people who are commenting: it's pn differently in different countries. Certain Scandinavian countries pn it Life, some Lafe. In the UK (and I think only certain small areas elsewhere) it's pn Leaf.

I like Leif. I would pn it Leaf, but I would certainly accept Lafe. I think Life sounds silly, tbh.

If you want to change the spelling (which I don't think it necessary) I'd go for Lafe or Layf (which is kinda feminine). Laif looks like Life.

picnicbasketcase · 18/09/2014 19:35

Happy Leif Eriksson Day!

picnicbasketcase · 18/09/2014 19:41

It's not really, but it was on an episode of Spongebob and that's what it reminded me of.

GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 18/09/2014 19:46

Like it very much.

bac1985 · 21/09/2014 18:55

Thanks for the positively.

What about Laik? Pronounced 'lake'.

OP posts:
GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 21/09/2014 21:46

Prefer Leif!