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

My SIL is Leila (Pronounced Layla). Nobody has called her Leela in 14 years.

Leia is pronounced Laya. Leah is pronounced Leeya.

Leia is very pretty, and despite the Star Wars thing, somehow sounds quite elegant to me- plus the original films were so long ago, it almost feels like a classic reference (albeit cult classic pop culture🤣 -but at least everyone will get the pronunciation of Leia). Don’t do Biblical Leah - I’ve never heard it pronounced as anything but “Lee-ah”.

I’ll be honest and say Harper has almost the opposite vibe to me. I understand Harper Lee is classic pop culture too and 20 years ago the name would have sounded quite quirky or even classy (since there were only a few about, everyone would assume all named after the author). But since celebs have used it and thousands copied them, it’s become super trendy and ( dare I say it) therefore sounds a bit down market now imo?

I'd say Lee-ah but can also see Lay-ah.

My SIL is Leila (Pronounced Layla).

My MIL is Sheila (Pronounced Sheela)

How will people know though if they don't know the name? Ei can be pronounced three ways.

So what is her actual name? Surely it's
Lee ah If she wants to change it to leah because she doesn't like correcting people with spelling and pronunciation?

My mum is Eileen. My aunt is Eira.

If anyone wanted their dd to be known as Leeya they would name them Leah. Why would someone name their baby Leia and expect them to be called Leah?

They are two different names with different spellings and different pronunciations.

Maybe it’s a regional thing? I’m Welsh. I know quite a few Lia’s (pronounced Leeya). My DD’s best friends name has been pronounced “Liar” in England.

I think it's a lovely name and most people would pronounce it correctly. I pronounce it the Star Wars way but it's what I think of when I hear the name. I think oh I met a nice Leia once. Just don't start introducing her as "Leia, like process leia" and it shouldn't become a thing. It's nowhere near the same level of say Alexa (also a lovely name).

Leia = Lay-a.
Its a lovely name. Introduce her as Lay-a and she’ll be called Lay-a.

I can’t see how Leia can be mispronounced, personally.

There will always be posters on line who will go against the majority, simply because they want to be different (awkward).

That’s a pretty rude comment - I don’t think people are being awkward or against the majority - if you don’t know anything about Star Wars and look at the name itself - it can be pronounced either way as Leeya or Laya, especially to non English native people. Majority of people in UK will pronounce it as Laya and I agree if using it in UK then if you want a Leeya you should spell it as Leah or Lia.

Absolutely! I’m baffled by all the “never seen Star Wars so wouldn’t have a clue” comments! Such a famous pop culture reference 😳. I’ve never seen Game of Thrones but still know that Jon Snow is one of the main characters 🤷‍♀️.

Why would watching a film (unless you have subtitles running) teach you how to spell a word?
Disclaimer: I'm dyslexic. It wouldn't help me, so if the answer is it helps most, I'll accept it.

Leah.

@RemarkablyBrightCreature
Absolutely! I’m baffled by all the “never seen Star Wars so wouldn’t have a clue” comments! Such a famous pop culture reference 😳. I’ve never seen Game of Thrones but still know that Jon Snow is one of the main characters 🤷‍♀️

And as explained, those of us who have haven't watched a Star Wars film are probably aware of the character but have never heard the name being spoken so don't know how it's pronounced.
Also, I've never watched Game of Thrones and I've never heard of Jon Snow.

Like the princess! I think it’s obvious how to pronounce Leia, whereas Leah could be lay-a or Lee-a

The films have all that writing at the start so it’s probably written in there somewhere.

Also when Carrie Fisher died a few years ago it was written a lot in the press. The Friends episode ‘The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy’. I saw a pretty terrifying ‘Princess Leia’ doll with a giant head in a toy shop the other day and it was written in the box. Etc.

And as explained, those of us who have haven't watched a Star Wars film are probably aware of the character but have never heard the name being spoken so don't know how it's pronounced.

I'm not even aware of the character called Leia. Never seen star wars or heard of the princess in star wars

Thanks everyone for all the responses, it’s been helpful to get an outside perspective as I’ve thought about it too much.

I want to give her a name I love, but also would hate for her to want to change it when she’s older because I didn’t think through the awkwardness as some posters mentioned they knew others had done/ wanted to.

It seems the general consensus is that people would pronounce is Laya if they were aware of Star Wars but more likely to spell / say it differently if they hadn’t seen the films.

For those wondering, we are from the U.K. if that changes it slightly.

We are booked to register on Friday so will update once a final decision has been made.

Thanks very much. It seems to be that people would say ‘Laya’ if they’ve seen the Star Wars films but ‘Leah’ if not.

Out of interest, how old is she? As another poster pointed out, I don’t have any idea if children now would be aware of Star Wars

It is going to saddle her for life with complications which seems a bit pointless. Cannot you go for something like Sarah or Mary. She will then have a simpler life. I have not watched star wars.
If I saw Leia written down first of all I would think it were a typo, then I would take it into bits - lei is "lee" and that a at the end is a short a . So Lee ah (not lee ay).

I think the spelling seems to be the other part of this I need to consider as even if you were aware Leia was said as Laya in the films, I don’t know how many people would spell it Leia if they heard me pronounce it Laya.

I’m thinking of (hopefully) future class party invites or as an adult renewing car insurance sort of thing and people assuming the spelling is Laya and her needing to correct it constantly.

I’ve never seen Star Wars and my first thought was..

…Leia is pronounced ‘Laya’ as in Princess Leia from Star Wars

Literally everyone under 50 is going to pronounce it like General Leia, leader of the Resistance. It’s a totally badass name, I love it!

'I don’t have any idea if children now would be aware of Star Wars'

Star Wars is still a massive thing and will continue to be a massive thing.

Children definitely aware of Star Wars! We’ve been to 3 Star Wars parties this year. DD in year 2 so kids are 6/7. It’s massive again, I think mostly because of all the lego Star Wars stuff and also the new movies.