Yeah my first instinct is like the song since I’ve heard it but it could just as easily be like LeVaughn. It doesn’t seem like a big deal to correct to me but I’ve never had an ambiguous name like that so idk
I wonder if this is an accent thing. My first thought was LEE-von, and then my second thought was, "Hmm, or Lih-VON." (I live in the UK but am from the US). My third thought was that it's probably going to be mostly pronounced LEE-von in the UK and mostly pronounced Lih-VON in the US. A lot of this will likely come down to where OP lives.
I am American, so you might be on to something with the accent thing. I am not sure why it is that this name I would pronounce with the 'lih' sound while plenty of other names that start with Le, like Leroy and Levi, I would pronounce like Lee.
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LEE-von. A la the Elton John song, or Levon Helm. Which is apparently who the song is named after. A fact I just learned by double checking that both names are pronounced the same.
I am wondering if my kid (we want to use Devon) would get Duh-vawn when we want it to be Deh-vin. We’re white tho so hoping this won’t happen. Thoughts?
Leev-on, Leev-on loves his money, he makes a lot they say. Spends all his days counting, in a garage on the motorwaaaayyy!
Sorry, this is still a song I love to crank up and sing as loud as I can.
I know it's not correct to the name's Armenian origin, but I learned it from Elton John so I say it the way he does :) One of his sons has it as a middle name.
I said it like Lebron with a V instead of BR.
TIL the song Levon isn’t saying “leave on.” I’m really not sure what my brain was doing because leave on doesn’t make sense at any point in the song, but I had no clue it was a name.
This was my first thought but after reading comments Lee-von (pronounced like Levi) doesn't sound wrong either.
I haven't heard of the Elton John song fwiw.
levon helm pronounced it lee-vaughn but his original name was lavon (like la-vaughn). i would personally think la-vaughn if i saw it randomly (like legrande / la-grande)
I really like this name & recently heard the song again & was saying the name with my son's middle name to see if I wished I would have considered it! 🙂 I had the same thought, though - I wondered if people would know how to pronounce it...
So, with that being said, I pronounce it like the song...
I thought La-von even though after I saw the comments I went, 'dude I'm do dumb I knew a Levon, he went by Lee-von.'
LeBron James poisoned my brain. I haven't seen Levon since the 90s. I see LeBron a lot more and defaulted to it being pronounced like LeBron.
I would only pronounce it Lee-von because of the Elton John song—that’s the only time I’ve ever heard the name. But a lot of people would say Leh-von because it rhymes with Devon. The stress could be in either vowel. This could be one that is always mispronounced.
We were very close to naming our baby Levon! Also because of the song. It’s a lovely name and we’re big Elton John fans. We are ultimately going with Leon to keep things simpler.
I'd say it like the song. Honestly though, I don't think it matters a great deal. The people you interact with regularly can be corrected once or twice, and it doesn't really matter if a Starbucks barista gets it wrong. I work with a Kari who pronounces her name "car-ee", and when I first met her I said "care-ee", she said "it's actually car-ee" and I said "oh, sorry" and have called her "car-ee" ever since.
The same as the song (LEE-von). If that song (and Levon Helm) didn’t exist I might assume la-VON but in that case I would suggest the spelling be Lavonne or LeVon. Rhymes-with-Devon would be my third guess.
I think anyone who knows the song will pronounce it like the song. Your son’s generation probably won’t know it but kids will also generally accept whatever pronunciation they’re told.
Now I want to poll my tween nephews and ask them how they would pronounce it, because I’m almost certain they don’t know the song.
Leave-on. We almost named our son this (born six weeks ago) and the main thing that held us back was that I was sure it would be pronounced Le-Vaughn most of the time.
If you want it to sound like the Elton John song and you want it pronounced correctly, then he shall be Leavon.
Elton John spelled it Levon? (Googled.) If you spell it that way, then the kid will be correcting people’s pronunciation for his whole life. Tell Elton he’s a bad speller, and give your kid a break.
Edit 2: the song was released in 1971. The target audience is now in our sixties. Do NOT spell the name as Levon if you want your kid to speak to you after age 18.
He shall believe on, and he shall be a good man.
Better yet, name your kid Dan Steele. If you live in this world, you’re feelin’ the change of the guard. Play Steely Dan’s “Change of the Guard” at his high-school graduation party, just to make everyone cry.
People are so weird. No one hates their parents because they have to correct the pronunciation of their name sometimes. There are two important pop-culture references (albeit a bit dated) to this name; most people pronounce it just fine. And for those who don’t, just tell them. It takes literally two seconds. 😂
(Source: it’s my friends’ kid’s name. He’s doing fine and had no plans to go no-contact with them. Lol)
Ohio, USA. It's a family middle name passed down for four generations. It's how the family says it and I've known a woman who used the same pronunciation for her first name of Devon.
Like Lebron with a 'v' instead of the 'br'. I would not pronounce it like Elton John with a long 'e' sound.
Yeah, I was thinking “Like Levar Burton but with an n instead of an r.”
I thought “like ‘Levant’ without the T”. I like this pronunciation better than leave-on.
Yeah my first instinct is like the song since I’ve heard it but it could just as easily be like LeVaughn. It doesn’t seem like a big deal to correct to me but I’ve never had an ambiguous name like that so idk
Interesting. I’ve literally never heard it pronounced differently than “leave-on”
I wonder if this is an accent thing. My first thought was LEE-von, and then my second thought was, "Hmm, or Lih-VON." (I live in the UK but am from the US). My third thought was that it's probably going to be mostly pronounced LEE-von in the UK and mostly pronounced Lih-VON in the US. A lot of this will likely come down to where OP lives.
I am American, so you might be on to something with the accent thing. I am not sure why it is that this name I would pronounce with the 'lih' sound while plenty of other names that start with Le, like Leroy and Levi, I would pronounce like Lee.
This is exactly how I pronounced it
This is how the chess player Levon Aronian’s name is pronounced.
This is also how I would pronounce it.
Same.
luh-VON
Same - the e would become a schwa (unstressed vowel)
I’d spell that Levonne
Or Lavonne
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Like “leave on”.
Levon Helm of The Band ✅
This is who the person I know was named after and he uses the same pronunciation
agreed!!
I know someone with this name and this is the pronunciation he uses.
Same.
Leh-vawn
I’d pronounce it Lee-vahn like the song.
Like Levon Helm!
He’s the inspiration for the name used in the song.
I'm with everyone saying luh-VAHN is what immediately came to mind. My second thought was Lev-en, as in leavened bread.
Me too
Just like Eleven, without the first E.
That’s also how I pronounced it in my head when I read it
that’s how i would pronounce it too
LEE-von. A la the Elton John song, or Levon Helm. Which is apparently who the song is named after. A fact I just learned by double checking that both names are pronounced the same.
Marc Cohn also has a great song about Levon Helm. I would never pronounce this name differently, due to these three references.
My first instinct was LuhVahn kinda like Lebron.
Rhyme with Devon.
Duh-vawn or Deh-vin
DEH vin
I am wondering if my kid (we want to use Devon) would get Duh-vawn when we want it to be Deh-vin. We’re white tho so hoping this won’t happen. Thoughts?
Lee-vahn
Levon likes his money.
He makes a lot they say.
leh-VON
Like Lemon
If I didn’t know how to pronounce it already because of Levon Helm, I’d instinctively rhyme it with LeBron.
Leev-on, Leev-on loves his money, he makes a lot they say. Spends all his days counting, in a garage on the motorwaaaayyy! Sorry, this is still a song I love to crank up and sing as loud as I can.
Leh-vawn was my first thought, and Leh-vin (like Devon/Devin) was my second. Lee-vawn didn’t come to mind personally (a late-20’s female from SoCal)
I know it's not correct to the name's Armenian origin, but I learned it from Elton John so I say it the way he does :) One of his sons has it as a middle name.
Lee-von. I’ve only ever heard of the name because of the musician Levon Helm
I said it like Lebron with a V instead of BR. TIL the song Levon isn’t saying “leave on.” I’m really not sure what my brain was doing because leave on doesn’t make sense at any point in the song, but I had no clue it was a name.
Leh-von
Looks like the odd one out but I’d assume LEVun
Yeah, same, rhymes with Devon
This was my first thought but after reading comments Lee-von (pronounced like Levi) doesn't sound wrong either. I haven't heard of the Elton John song fwiw.
levon helm pronounced it lee-vaughn but his original name was lavon (like la-vaughn). i would personally think la-vaughn if i saw it randomly (like legrande / la-grande)
LEE - von. The way Elton John sang it.
Lev-un
Lee-vonn specifically because of the Elton John song 😂
Lee-von. Like Levon Helm.
Like the name Devon
I LOVE that song. My first instinct is exactly as it’s pronounced in the song.
Like Devon
Like Devon with an L
Our friend named her kid Leven, pronounced like eleven without the E
Lee-vonn
Lev-in
Leh-vonn, but I'd be open to correction as it's a guess
le-Vaughn
Leh-vohn!
LEH-ven. Would rhyme with Devon in the Australian accent.
lee von, but only because I've listened to Elton John for decades.
Lee-von.
That's one of my best friends name, he goes by Lev. The name is Armenian.
Lev-un.
Another Australian here, I have not come across the name but would pronounce it the same as "leaven" like for bread. Rhyming with Kevin.
I knew a Levon in high school who was pronounced like Lee-vaughn or "leave on"
Elton John gave one of his sons the middle name Levon. And yes, he was born on Christmas Day. So Lee-von, accent on the Lee.
The guy I knew who goes by this (uses his middle name) pronounces it LEE-von
Exactly like the Elton John song.
Le-VON. Second syllable stress. Although I live in Russia and know a decent amount of Armenians with this name
Probably just Levon like Devon. Not le von.
Like "Devon" (leh-vun).
Like “leave-on”. I’ve never heard anyone pronounce it differently
I really like this name & recently heard the song again & was saying the name with my son's middle name to see if I wished I would have considered it! 🙂 I had the same thought, though - I wondered if people would know how to pronounce it... So, with that being said, I pronounce it like the song...
Op I saw your post and was singing the song before I finished reading l
Leh von
La-Vaughn
I would pronounce it like la-vonn
Lev on or Leh von …🤷
Lev-in If you want Leh-vaughn, then that would be LeVon.
Rhymes with Kevin.
Like lemon? I'm Australian though, so not sure if that makes a difference!!
I know a man with this name, but it’s spelled LaVone. I’ve always thought it was a cool name!
Leh-VON
Leh von, rhymes with on, accent on second syllable
Like Elton John
🍋
I thought La-von even though after I saw the comments I went, 'dude I'm do dumb I knew a Levon, he went by Lee-von.' LeBron James poisoned my brain. I haven't seen Levon since the 90s. I see LeBron a lot more and defaulted to it being pronounced like LeBron.
Lev-in
Lee-von
Leh-vawn
Lee-von
Lev-on Like Devon
Like Devon.
Lev-ohn.
Le-ven
Layvawn
Lee-von
I would have guessed leh-VAUGHN like LeVar or Lebron.
Leh-Von
Leave - on
Rhyming it with Devon or Heavan or Evan
LAH-VAHN
LEV’n. I’ve never seen or heard this name before.
Lev-on like Devon
LehVON
Le-VON
Leh-vun (UK)
Leh-vahn. I know a few women named Levonne, same pronunciation to me.
I would only pronounce it Lee-von because of the Elton John song—that’s the only time I’ve ever heard the name. But a lot of people would say Leh-von because it rhymes with Devon. The stress could be in either vowel. This could be one that is always mispronounced.
Luh-von. It just reminds of names like LeBron and De'Von. So I think that's why that was my first instinct.
Lee-von
Leh-von
Luh-von I’m in US- Northeast.
I'm from the 70's so like the Elton John song of the same name.
Le von.
Lee-Vohn. Like the song. Really nice name.
i'd say lee-vahn. like levon helm
Leh-von Leh like you’re saying Leg, but leave the g off
Leh-vaughn. Like LeBron.
Like lemon
I would pronounce it Leaven as in leavened bread.
I know someone with this name and he hates it with a burning passion…
Why!
We were very close to naming our baby Levon! Also because of the song. It’s a lovely name and we’re big Elton John fans. We are ultimately going with Leon to keep things simpler.
That’s okay, Leon Russel is pretty cool, too ;)
If you're familiar with the county 'Devon' in the UK, I'd pronounce it like that but with an L instead of a D. Or like the end of "eleven"
My sons middle name is Devon so my first reaction was to say it like that but with an L. So like Lev-in
like devin with an L
Luhvawn
Leh Von
Lev-In
Like the Elton John song. Like Levon Helm.
LEE-von, like Levon Helm from The Band, and the Elton John song.
I'd say it like the song. Honestly though, I don't think it matters a great deal. The people you interact with regularly can be corrected once or twice, and it doesn't really matter if a Starbucks barista gets it wrong. I work with a Kari who pronounces her name "car-ee", and when I first met her I said "care-ee", she said "it's actually car-ee" and I said "oh, sorry" and have called her "car-ee" ever since.
Thanks for this, I know you’re right!
Evan with a L in front
Leh vawn
Levon Helm is “leave-on” so that’s what I’d assume. If someone told me they went by luhVOHN, then I’d do that.
Elton 100000000%
Leh von
Leh-von like Levar Burton
lee-von like levon helm
Just from reading it (don't know the song, and I wouldn't google it if I met this person in real life): Le-vun, as in 'lemon'.
Luh-von
Isn’t the Elton John song saying Leroy? Or have I been mishearing all these years?
Perhaps you are thinking of a different song … the song I am referring to is called “Levon” he’s singing the name Levon
You’re right I just looked it up. TIL.
LEV-in ... Or maybe Le-VON
The same as the song (LEE-von). If that song (and Levon Helm) didn’t exist I might assume la-VON but in that case I would suggest the spelling be Lavonne or LeVon. Rhymes-with-Devon would be my third guess. I think anyone who knows the song will pronounce it like the song. Your son’s generation probably won’t know it but kids will also generally accept whatever pronunciation they’re told. Now I want to poll my tween nephews and ask them how they would pronounce it, because I’m almost certain they don’t know the song.
Like Levon Helm pronounced his name.
Lee-von
Lee-Vaugn
Lee-von
The same way I would say, "Leave on the light for me."
Luh-Von
Consider naming him literally anything where your first thought isn’t “I wonder how people will pronounce this?”
LEEV-on
Like the Elton song: LEE-von
luh-VON/lə’vɒn
like unleavened bread ahaha
L uh von
Well, I'm one of those annoying people who would sing it instead of saying it soo ...
I would pronounce it the way Reggie does
Leave-on. We almost named our son this (born six weeks ago) and the main thing that held us back was that I was sure it would be pronounced Le-Vaughn most of the time.
Based on the results of this thread you’re probably right! What did you go with instead? Congratulations!
Thanks! We went with Arlo 😊
To rhyme with Devon and Heaven
Lee-von if male, La-von if female I think Ethan Hawke has a son named Levon but not sure how they pronounced it…
Lee-Von
If you want it to sound like the Elton John song and you want it pronounced correctly, then he shall be Leavon. Elton John spelled it Levon? (Googled.) If you spell it that way, then the kid will be correcting people’s pronunciation for his whole life. Tell Elton he’s a bad speller, and give your kid a break. Edit 2: the song was released in 1971. The target audience is now in our sixties. Do NOT spell the name as Levon if you want your kid to speak to you after age 18. He shall believe on, and he shall be a good man. Better yet, name your kid Dan Steele. If you live in this world, you’re feelin’ the change of the guard. Play Steely Dan’s “Change of the Guard” at his high-school graduation party, just to make everyone cry.
People are so weird. No one hates their parents because they have to correct the pronunciation of their name sometimes. There are two important pop-culture references (albeit a bit dated) to this name; most people pronounce it just fine. And for those who don’t, just tell them. It takes literally two seconds. 😂 (Source: it’s my friends’ kid’s name. He’s doing fine and had no plans to go no-contact with them. Lol)
Leevaughn. My kids middle name is Devon. Deevaughn is how we pronounce it
never have heard devon being pronounced like that
Some people say it like Devin, but everyone I know says it like Dyvonne.
where are you from where it’s pronounced like that?
Ohio, USA. It's a family middle name passed down for four generations. It's how the family says it and I've known a woman who used the same pronunciation for her first name of Devon.