What's the right pronunciation for "Leigh"? / myLot

Philippines

May 24, 2012 12:01am CST

That will be my new daughter's second name, and up until now, my husband and I can't agree on how we want it pronounced, or what the right pronunciation is. I checked online, and saw a forum discussing about this name. There were different views and I'd like to hear from myLotters, too. Case 1: Leigh = "Lay" Words ending in "eigh" are pronounced "ay", example: weigh, sleigh, Case 2: Leigh = "Lee" Its commonly pronounced as "Lee". Famous celebrities with this name are: Richard Leigh, Vivien Leigh, Janet Leigh, Rachel Leigh Cook. I am for the pronunciation, "Lee", but my husband prefers "Ley". Is it okay to just go with either pronunciation? Or, should we really have to agree on one.

1 person likes this

5 responses

butterscotsh

@butterscotsh (1012)

• Philippines

24 May 12

I prefer "Lay" like in the name of the actress Leighton Meester. I think Leigh as Lay is cuter. Plus, I never knew Leigh could be pronounced as Lee. It was a little confusing for me.

jureathome

@jureathome (5361)

• Philippines

24 May 12

That's 2 points for my husband. I still like it pronounced as "Lee", though. Do you know Rachel Leigh Cook, from Smallville?

sedel1027

@sedel1027 (17846)

• Cupertino, California

24 May 12

Oooh DH and I went through this with our daughter. Her middle name is Lee and we went back and forth between spelling it Lee or Leigh. Depending on where you live in the world, they are both pronounced Lee (IIRC in England Leigh = Lee; in the US it's lay). To not confuse anyone since we wanted "lee" we went with Lee.

jureathome

@jureathome (5361)

• Philippines

24 May 12

That's what my husband suggested. Spell it Lee or Ley. But, I prefer the longer spelling, Leigh. I think it's more sophisticated and I sort of get a laugh whenever, people would wonder how it's pronounced when they see the name. Apparently, that name is not very common here in our place.