See the results of this poll: Leighton?
Respondents: 35 (This poll is closed)
- LAY-ton : 31 (89%)
- LEE-ton: 4 (11%)
Respondents: 35 (This poll is closed)
[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-ton
[name_m]Just[/name_m] for the sake of contrast I said [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-ton out loud and it is super-awkward and wrong-sounding. So the only way it sounds right to me is [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-ton.
[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-ton. There is a famous Australian tennis player called [name_u]Leighton[/name_u] [name_m]Hewitt[/name_m], and that is my only association with the name (he pronounces it [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-ton).
At first glance, I want to pronounce it [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-ton. There is an actress named [name_u]Leighton[/name_u] Meester that pronounces it [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-ton which is the correct pronunciation. To avoid confusion I would spell it [name_m]Layton[/name_m] to get the pronunciation you want.
I prn it [name_m]Lay[/name_m]-ton even though I would prn [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] with an -ee- sound.