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ArchivesQuestion about usage of Leith
BtN says it is a masculine usage in Scotland, but on less familiar websites I have seen it shown as unisex usage.
Please share with me any factual resources or personal experiences regarding the usage of this name, anywhere, by gender.. thanks
- chazda
ETA link Leith
Please share with me any factual resources or personal experiences regarding the usage of this name, anywhere, by gender.. thanks
- chazda
ETA link Leith
This message was edited 10/8/2005, 10:12 AM
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Replies
I´ve seen it used in both cases, actually more female than male. It almost sounds more like a girl´s name to me.
Gender: Boy / Girl
Origin: Scottish, Gaelic
Meaning: "Broad river."
Notes: The variant spelling Lethe, is the river of forgetfulness in Greek mythology.
Variants: Leithe, Lethe
Gender: Boy / Girl
Origin: Scottish, Gaelic
Meaning: "Broad river."
Notes: The variant spelling Lethe, is the river of forgetfulness in Greek mythology.
Variants: Leithe, Lethe
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Yeah, that's the exact entry I found at thinkbabynames.com. I didn't really accept that, because Leith is not really a variant spelling of Lethe (LEE-thee), but an entirely different name.
However, the similar pronunciation might explain why the name would be found on both sexes, better than to say it's simply a surname used as a first name (since Lethe seems likely used more for females). Although I'm not sure about that, either.
Another connection (via sound) might be with Letha & Alethea (linked).
Can you tell me where (geographically) you met your Leiths, and roughly when they would have been born?
- chazda
However, the similar pronunciation might explain why the name would be found on both sexes, better than to say it's simply a surname used as a first name (since Lethe seems likely used more for females). Although I'm not sure about that, either.
Another connection (via sound) might be with Letha & Alethea (linked).
Can you tell me where (geographically) you met your Leiths, and roughly when they would have been born?
- chazda
1
Some ancestor of my father was born in Europe, I think in Germany. My fourth-great grandmother's sister. Her name was Leithe.
The male usage of Leith was spelled Leith, but pronounced Leth, like Seth. I don't remember when he was born, but hes my friend's college-age brother who's of descent that isn't American.
The male usage of Leith was spelled Leith, but pronounced Leth, like Seth. I don't remember when he was born, but hes my friend's college-age brother who's of descent that isn't American.
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Leith is very rare as a given name. All the examples I have personally run across have been males, but almost all surnames which have become given names have occasionally been bestowed on girls, especially in the Southern states of the USA. I went to high school in Virginia with girls named Winston, Russell, and Jeffree. So it wouldn't particularly surprise me to run across a Southern woman named Leith.
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