ðə nˈeɪm lˈɛθbɹɪdʒ wʌz ɪn kˈɑːmən ʌnəfˈɪʃəl jˈuːs fɚðə ɹˈɪvɚ bˈɑːɾəm kəmjˈuːnᵻɾi æt lˈiːst æz ˈɜːli æz mˈeɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ.
The name Lethbridge was in common unofficial use for the river bottom community at least as early as May 1884.