Leila or Lela? What is in a name?

April 16, 2010 /

Factoid: I was named after my paternal grandmother Lela Whitaker-Jefferson. For most of my life I have had people mispronounce my name thinking it should sound like “Leila”. Recently my uncle was reviewing census docs from around the time of grandma’s birth… Well guess what? He learned her name WAS actually recorded as “Leila”. Go figure!

Personally I go by Lela pronounced like “Bruce Lee” Jefferson. Miss. Jefferson if you don’t act holy 😉

– www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

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Lela Jefferson Fagan

Lela Fagan (Jefferson) is the author of the book “Poetry of a Black Girl: The Darkness and the Light” and lead blogger at “Memoirs of a Black Girl”. Lela is an avid reader “A Real Bookworm” of all things in print. She finds joy in sharing socially and blogging about topics that matter the most to her. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Lela now lives in Houston, TX with her husband Oji, an educator and Football Coach. @LelaJefferson - See more at: http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com/