How would you pronounce Leia? Running out of time to register

[Mountainfreshair]

First time poster but would love your thoughts on how you would pronounce Leia?

We don’t have long left to register the birth and had decided on Leia long before I was pregnant, I’m now doubting it as worried that she will have a lifetime of people mis-spelling or saying her name wrong.. My intention would be Leia, pronounced as Laya.

The other option is Harper but aware this is very popular at the moment but still lovely and suits her too.

Thanks in advance

Like Princess Leia in Star Wars

Lay-ah. Never met one in real life.

I've never seen Star Wars, but I know it's pronounced Lay-a!

Lay-a

Also Lay-a. Agree most people will know the name from Star Wars regardless of whether they’ve seen the movies.

If you’re in somewhere like London it’s not a concern as everyone has a different accent and your ear gets used to accepting many pronunciations for everything. I expect as she grows older the whole country will be the same.

Laya. I'd assume you were Star Wars fans!

Laya

Leah, would be lee-ah

Thank you everyone for the responses so far.. I’m feeling relieved that the majority would pronounce it as I intended. I didn’t want to set her up for a lifetime of annoyance if it wasn’t that familiar. I’m a Star Wars fan but love the name regardless so this has put my mind at ease slightly.

Definitely lay ah

Surely as in Princess?

Although I have a sister called leah and people spelling it leia just seems ridiculous to me

Le-ah with the 'ei' like neighbours!

Thanks for your message. That’s a very good point and something I hadn’t considered about regularly being referred to as Princess or the Star Wars reference. Another point to think about in addition to the spelling & pronunciation worries as I would hate for her to have a name that causes a lifetime of hassle or dislike.

Princess Leia pronunciation

Thanks for your response.. I was intending it to be pronounced Lay-uh or Lay-ah rather than Leah (Lee-uh) so that’s why we were going with the above spelling but was concerned it would be said Leah as you’ve said.

I can understand why it could be seen as Lee-ah as Leigh would be said as Lee rather than Lay as the start but google tells me Leia is the right spelling/ pronunciation so that’s where I am stuck and doubting the name and the issues it may cause in the future for her.

I would also pronounce it Laya.

@InTheRainOnATrain I'm aware of the character but like I said I've never heard the name said out loud. I can't remember that bit of friends.

Layer. As in egg or cake.

I’d say Lee-ah because DD has a Leia in her year said that way. Lots of people call her Lay-ah initially though - like Star Wars.

Leee aa

I only know one and she’s Lee-ah

I'd think like the camera brand Leica.

I'm not a Star Wars fan, never seen a single film and have no intention to as it's really not my thing. However, I'm stunned how many people are not familiar with Princess Leia. That's like saying you've never heard of Batman or Harry Potter, or James Bond even! Surely she's a cultural reference most people simply pick up through osmosis?

Anyway, I digress. I still prefer Leia to Harper even if you do unfortunately need to correct the odd person that it's Lay-ah not Lee-ah.

I have nothing against popular names in general but Harper is one I'm personally sick of hearing. Every other girl around me under the age of 5 seems to be Harper so I think it will date badly as most on trend names seem to do. Personally I really don't think it sounds very pretty, I don't get the appeal.

Go for Leia :-)

I would say lay-a and think it’s a very pretty name.

Laya