Lelia

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

What do you think of the name Lelia? I came across it while doing genealogy research, and then met a Lelia at work, and I've been intrigued ever since. According to Behind the Name, it's the Italian form of the Ancient Roman Laelia, and, from what I gather, it could either be pronounced LEE-lee-a or LAY-lee-a, or perhaps even LEH-lee-a. I find it beautifully feminine, but it also kind of feels like it could become part of the next big trend, which is upsetting. Thoughts?

Comments

[fangirlism]

I like the pronunciation, but I'd spell it Layla.

Edit: I'd also probably use it as a middle name since it's rhymes with my sister's name, Kayla.

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

It doesn't rhyme with Kayla, though. Lelia has three syllables, the second of which is a long e.

[fangirlism]

My bad. I transposed the "i" and the second "l" and read "Leila."

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

You misread it the way I did, as Leila. I had to look at it twice before I realized it was a different name.

[fangirlism]

lol. I totally did.

[ollivander.livejournal.com]

Me too.

[shechoselove.livejournal.com]

I agree with you entirely. I think it's fresh and feminine but wouldn't be surprised if it became the next Aidan or Madison or Kaylyn or something.

[adamantplatypus.livejournal.com]

Eric Clapton.

[murderprotocol.livejournal.com]

I don't think it'd ever consider it, but I like it when it's pronounced LAY-lee-a.

[freezemyazaleas.livejournal.com]

I don't like it. It looks like someone just messed up Leila/Layla, or randomly decided to spell Delia with an L.

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

I think it's pretty, but truthfully looks like a typo of Leila, and I think a lot of people would probably pronounce it like that, rather than LAY-lee-a, which is gorgeous.

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

I knew a girl when I was younger named Lelia. She pronounced it "LEE-luh".

[shortbutfast.livejournal.com]

very beautiful name. it does seem timeless and classy. i can almost see her.

[waitingonsunday.livejournal.com]

It's pretty, but I always have to do a double-take, thinking I saw "Leila" (which, incidentally, I prefer). I like the Laelia spelling better. I wouldn't use it personally, but not bad.

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

I personally don't like too many l-syllables in a name.
Also, there are way too many Layla, Lila, Lily, Leyla around for my taste.

[krosp.livejournal.com]

It reminds me of -lalia which I believe means speech or tongue in Greek, which makes me think of echolalia, which is when people copy what someone is saying... like how some children with autism might tend to repeat the last word of what everyone says, or repeat a meaningless word over and over or something. So I can't get past that association, but probably few people would have it.

I also think the spelling doesn't do the name justice, perhaps Laelia is better, although I usually don't like ae, I do in this case.