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lev or leev.

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It depends on who is doing the pronouncing. Leev is the Hebrew pronunication.

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I love the name.

I know Jewish, Russian twins named Lev and Leon. He pronounces it just like it looks, Lev. I don't know if he just pronounces it so it's easier for us, but that's how they both pronounce it.

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ETA: They are originally from one of the Russian offshoots, Azerbajian.

This message was edited 7/8/2011, 8:21 PM

In English I would say, "lev." Just the way it looks. I've never heard it before so this is an assumption.

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I have heard it in Russian as, "lyev." The "L" is palatalized, meaning you say the "L" with your tongue up on the roof of your mouth. But I wouldn't expect anyone outside of a Slavic speaking country to say it that way.

In Hebrew, it's pronounced just like it's spelled. Great name; I love it.

In Russian, I think it's more like LYEF. I know a Canadian guy named Lev and he just pronounces it LEV (L, short E, V)
You can listen to a couple pronunciations here:
http://www.forvo.com/word/лев/#ru