Well, I'd say it LAY-a, like
Tea.
Yes it would cause some confusion, but it's not that big of a deal. I know a
Leah prn. LAY-a, and people just get used to it. Some take longer than others but it's still not an obnoxiously counterintuitive spelling/prn.
The name doesn't appeal to me that much. It's nice, I guess.
- mirfak