[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all!
Currently pregnant with my first. I was set on the name [name_m]Liev[/name_m] for a boy but just found out we are having a girl. What are your thoughts on the name Lieve for a girl? Does it sound made up? (because I did make it up lol). I read that this means “dear” in Dutch and that it is used as a name. Does anyone know if it is a legit name? Would it be like naming your child dear?
Finally, how would this be pronounced in the US?
According to a few other sites, it’s pronounced LEEV-uh and can also mean “godly life” or “good life.” Looks like it’s been around the top 100 for Dutch girls in recent years. (There’s a NB thread from 2009 listing it as No. 100, and Behind the Name has it at No. 126 in 2011.)
It’s a lovely name, with a host of nice meanings to boot, but I have a feeling it would get pronounced LEAVE (like [name_m]Liev[/name_m]) or even [name_f]LIV[/name_f] (like sieve) here in the U.S.
If you’re in the U.S., you could consider [name_f]Liva[/name_f], which I think would have a better chance of being pronounced LEEV-uh, or even [name_f]Liv[/name_f], [name_f]Livia[/name_f], [name_f]Livie[/name_f], [name_f]Liese[/name_f] or [name_f]Liesel[/name_f].
Im in the US and I’m wondering how to pronounce it! I would probably say [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-ev. I want to like it because i like new names that aren’t crazy, but I’m not sure how to say this one. If it’s pronounced [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-ev or Leev-uh , I’m not sure I like either pronounciation. I think I’d prefer [name_f]Livie[/name_f].
I’ve heard of Lieve as a Dutch name. I believe it’s pronounced [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-vuh but since I don’t speak Dutch I’m not certain.
I’m from the Netherlands and yes, it’s used as a name here. I would pronounce it as [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-vuh.
Thanks guys! Anybody else?
I would probably default pronounce Lieve as Leave, but after @deurklinkje clarification I understand that it is [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-va
When I read it I thought it would be pronounced “lee-ev” (as an American English and [name_m]French[/name_m] speaker).
With the [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-va pronunciation it is very pretty, but depending on where you live it might be hard to get people to say it that way.
If you’re in the US, it’d be way easier for people to pronounce if you spelled it Lieva.
I think Lieve is a sweet name. I love the meaning. I thought it would be pronounced [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-ev, but can definitely see it being pronounced [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-vuh. I actually prefer the [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-vuh pronunciation. It sounds as if you really like the “ideas” (for lack of better word) behind this name so why not use it?
I went to school overseas with a Belgian Lieve and chose the name for my first daughter. I live in [name_u]Texas[/name_u] so everyone pronounces it with a twang, [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-vah! But she knows it’s [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-vuh. She gets irritated with ppl who mispronounce before asking how to say it - she gets [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-ev, [name_m]Levy[/name_m], [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-vee, LĪVE-ee. So she tells them, think Italian - Leave-a-me-alone. They remember it that way! 