View Message

Well I've never heard the name used over here in Australia and I don't think I've ever seen it used here either. I actually really like this name though. I would pronounce it as either LAYF or LEEF. I personally prefer the LEEF pronunciation.

I love Leif as Leaf, if you know what I mean. But as leaf is a leaf and everybody would call me stupid (don't ask me why) I'd spell Leif as Leaf.

I believe people in the US pronounce it "leef" more often than any other way. I've never heard it pronounced any other way. I'd pronounce it that way myself, and I'd prefer to.

---

Not to scold you for not searching, but to expand your info, here are 2 threads where the pronunciation question has been asked:

---

http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=2980532&board=baby
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=710624&board=baby

---

About twice as many people said leef as said layf (I didn't check who spoke English as their first language). A couple people mentioned hearing the life pronunciation. I think leef is the conventional English pronunciation of Leif.

This message was edited 1/16/2008, 1:21 PM

I've only heard it pronounced "life" but then, I have only known one person with this name. He was German so I've always assumed that was the "correct" pronunciation. It's a nice looking name but the pronunciation would be a bit of a problem, I think.

I have heard the "life" pronunciation. The only Leif I've met IRL pronounced it that way. I wish I knew where he was from.

---

I've come to prefer the LAYF pronunciation, but it's still not one that comes easily to me. My first impluse is to pronounce it LEEF.

I love Leif pronounced LAYF.

---

I don't mind LEEF (sometimes), but dislike LIFE.

---

I've never heard it pronounced LIFE irl.

It's pronounced LAYF in Sweden but if you come from my region in the south of Sweden you could very well hear some one say it like LIFE because of the accent we have here.

LEEF and LAYF are equally fine to my ears--I think it's a perfectly handsome name. I've never heard LIFE before, though. I knew one growing up, and it suited him quite well. And it fit in perfectly fine with the other smattering of very Norwegian names that pepper my area. :) It'd work well just about anywhere, though. Very nice.

---

When I was younger, I had a teacher named Ms. Reif (RIFE, like fife or life), and I always thought it would be funny if she had a boy called Leif, since his first and last name would look like they rhymed and then wouldn't. :D

---

Array