Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Can I call my baby Lief?

63 replies

Tollygunge · 12/03/2016 14:47

Just that really. Expecting boy and have no name. My choices are Fox, Cassius and Lief BUT I live in a pretty chilled out part of a city where names like these are the norm. For example, we swam with a little boy called Winter. Will my poor child suffer with such a name? I would pronounce Leaf and we have no Scandinavian roots. Quite the other side of the equator in fact...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
RusholmeRuffian · 12/03/2016 14:53

If you are going to use it, it should be spelled Leif

Tollygunge · 12/03/2016 14:54

Ah, wasn't sure re spelling

OP posts:
VocationalGoat · 12/03/2016 14:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chocolatteaddict1 · 12/03/2016 14:56

My dn gets called 'leaf' shortened from Aleatha.

It's not for me sorry.

DropYourSword · 12/03/2016 14:58

Yep, you can. DH knew a Leif - I like it!

Floggingmolly · 12/03/2016 15:00

Why would you consider calling your child Fox??

INeedSomeHelp · 12/03/2016 15:01

Leif Garrett? Anyone? No, just me then. Realises just how old I actually am.

Tollygunge · 12/03/2016 15:04

Ha, I like Fox! I think it's kinda cool and edgy.

OP posts:
Icapturethecastle · 12/03/2016 15:07

My first thought was Leif Garrett as well! I like it much more that the Fox.

Pantsalive · 12/03/2016 15:08

I thought of Leif Garrett too Ineed. I'm also that old!

mrsschu · 12/03/2016 15:08

Fox is dreadful and I'm not keen on Cassius either. If you were spelling and pronouncing Leif the Scandinavian way it would probably be fine but pronouncing it Leaf is very silly IMO.

LionsAndTigersAndBearsHaha · 12/03/2016 15:13

Leif Garrett sprang to my mind too, lol.
Most people if my age would remember him and pronounce it as Leaf.

originalmavis · 12/03/2016 15:13

Lieg Ericsson?

ranatemp · 12/03/2016 15:15

How about the spelling Leefe - name of a WW1 hero in my area? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leefe_Robinson

brookeberry · 12/03/2016 15:23

I like Leif and Fox. Go for what feels right to you Smile

Tollygunge · 12/03/2016 15:24

Ranatemp- thanks!! That's what I want. Anyone got any other suggestions?

OP posts:
DaphneWhitethigh · 12/03/2016 15:30

I think if you want to call your DS Leaf, pronounced Leaf, like a bit of the tree then that's absolutely fine. Nothing wrong with having a hippyish name, and DS can say "my name's Leaf, yes, like on a tree" for the rest of his life, which is fine (I have a name whose spelling needs explaining like that and it's perfectly OK).

Calling them Lief, or Leif but pronouncing it Leaf would be weird.

GRW · 12/03/2016 16:58

I know a toddler called Reef. I wasn't sure at first but now I think it suits him. Leif is ok.

LuckySantangelo1 · 12/03/2016 17:00

Love all three but agree with other posters that spelling it Leaf would be best. Love the name Fox!

Fletcherl · 12/03/2016 17:01

Raef

kelda · 12/03/2016 17:02

Lief, pronounced similar to leaf, is actually a dutch name. Short for Lieven (male) or Lieve (female).

HumptyDumptyBumpty · 12/03/2016 17:02

What about Liev, like Liev Schriebrer?

DafferDill · 12/03/2016 18:27

I like Fox. I wouldn't worry too much what people on here say about it. I've come to realise that if they haven't heard a name before it's a "no way" until they've heard it a few times then it's 50/50 who likes it. When it becomes fairly popular it's a "yes it's lovely". Unless it's a chav yoonique name, then it's a "no way, not ever" Wink

Cerseirys · 12/03/2016 18:43

Unless your surname is Richards, then I say go with Leif!

BloodyPlantagenets · 12/03/2016 18:45

I knew an adult Leif, pronounced leaf. I like it.