When you see "Leo," how do you pronounce it?

magpie1127 · February 2013

I pronounce it "lee-oh," but I've seen lots of people (not of Hispanic or Italian heritage) pronounce it lay-oh. How do you say it?

Chelscole · February 2013

I know this name is popular in France pronounced that way according to name berry. I pronounce it leeoh though.

Court0026 · February 2013

DaisyBlinks:
Lee-oh. I've never, ever heard of anyone, of any heritage pronounce it 'lay-oh'

This!

CelticWife · February 2013

DaisyBlinks:
Leeoh. I've never, ever heard of anyone, of any heritagenbsp;pronouncenbsp;it 'layoh'

This.

Guillerma · February 2013

Lee- oh? This seems like the most straightforward name I can think of to pronounce. People pronounce it differently??

danabsd · February 2013

Leo-nardo (DiCaprio)

OctGirl80 · February 2013

DaisyBlinks:
Lee-oh. I've never, ever heard of anyone, of any heritage pronounce it 'lay-oh'

This.

Happy2BPregnant · February 2013

Happy_Yahoo_Personaler:
DaisyBlinks:
Lee-oh. I've never, ever heard of anyone, of any heritage pronounce it 'lay-oh'
This.

Agree.

FakeFinn · February 2013

I say lee-oh. In Dutch (and I think also in German) I'd say lay-oh.

Elinetrouwt · February 2013

LMvW85:
I say lee-oh. In Dutch (and I think also in German) I'd say lay-oh.

This. Lee-oh is the only English way I can think of, but in Dutch, German or French it would be lay-oh (LAY-oh in Dutch or German, lay-OH in French).

However, I would not let this keep you from calling your kid Leo, pron. Lee-oh. A majority of the people will get it right immediately.

capulet · February 2013

I pronounce it Lee-oh. DD had two Leos in her class last year. One was Italian and his family pronounced it Lay-oh, but they called him Lee-oh plus his last initial at school.

g8trkim · February 2013

DaisyBlinks:
Lee-oh. I've never, ever heard of anyone, of any heritage pronounce it 'lay-oh'

This. My Grandpa Leo was French and he still went by Lee-oh.

526SadieSadie · February 2013

I default to Lee-oh but the name Leonardo in Italian is properly pronounced Leh-oh-nar-doe (rolled r sound) Drawn out it can sound like Lay-oh

The "e" vowel sound is "eh"

ang.ela23 · February 2013

DaisyBlinks:
Lee-oh. I've never, ever heard of anyone, of any heritage pronounce it 'lay-oh'

this.

Zimger · February 2013

526SadieSadie:

I default to Lee-oh but the name Leonardo in Italian is properly pronounced Leh-oh-nar-doe (rolled r sound) Drawn out it can sound like Lay-oh

The "e" vowel sound is "eh"

This. I have heard it on occasion. I tutored a kid whose family had a very thick Italian accent. They called him Lay-oh but were fine when anyone else said Lee-oh.

I don't think it is a big deal and the majority of the time you will hear Lee-oh.