Though I am positive the majority in this crowd pronounce it as "Lee-Uh"... though is incorrect, if you wish to speak it through an Italian tongue.LEE-AhThe "Li" is stressed to "LEE," or otherwise "I" equals "EE," meaning "L" is just a bit of frosting before the emphasis. "A" is always as in "Father." [noted -ed]Now, I do hope people do not turn this into another "Ava" or the likes... it is too pretty (as a nickname, only, please) to be brought down so low.