Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Dahlia - pronunciation??

85 replies

DueJune16 · 17/04/2016 16:28

Hi,

We really like the name Dahlia if we have a girl, just a bit stuck on the correct pronunciation!
I thought it was pronounced Day-lia, hubby thinks Dhal-ia.
I really like both but just wanted opinions on how other people would pronounce the name.

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
barneymcgroo · 30/04/2022 15:09

To rhyme with Australia, is how I always had it. My mum knows a rude Limerick where the two rhyme... 😳

KirstenBlest · 30/04/2022 15:08

sorry, it's Fuchsia not what I typed

KirstenBlest · 30/04/2022 15:08

Revolut · 30/04/2022 14:49

The flowers are named after the botanist Anders Dahl and pronounced dah-lee-a.

The flower is named after a botanist called Dahl, but in the UK the flower is pronounced Day-lia

Similarly, Fuschia is pronounced Fewsha

pinklavenders · 30/04/2022 15:06

I've only ever heard Dahlia pronounced Dah-lia

Never heard Dah pronounced Day..?!

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 30/04/2022 14:54

Alwayshoovering · 30/04/2022 14:46

Oh that's annoying, just realised someone decided to resurrect an old thread with a nonsense post about UK and US pronunciation of the name.
FYI to that poster the difference in pronunciation is not US UK thing.

Disagree. I've only heard it as day-lia in the UK, as in Aunt Dahlia of PG Wodehouse fame. But Americans pronounce is as dahl-ia. As in the Black Dahlia.

Revolut · 30/04/2022 14:49

The flowers are named after the botanist Anders Dahl and pronounced dah-lee-a.

Alwayshoovering · 30/04/2022 14:46

Oh that's annoying, just realised someone decided to resurrect an old thread with a nonsense post about UK and US pronunciation of the name.
FYI to that poster the difference in pronunciation is not US UK thing.

Alwayshoovering · 30/04/2022 14:42

I've only ever heard it pronounced
Dar-Lee -Uh
I was unaware anyone pronounced it Day Lee Uh but just go with whatever you like.

On a side note google translate has it pronounced both ways so must be one-off those names that is quite interchangeable on pronunciation.

Joystir59 · 30/04/2022 14:10

Day-lia, marvellous flowers!

RedMake88 · 30/04/2022 14:09

Bizarrely as a name I’d say Dar-lia and as a flower day-lia! Don’t know why!

KirstenBlest · 30/04/2022 14:08

Day-lia

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 30/04/2022 10:53

Old thread but...

US - Dah

UK- Day

BibliophileYogiGirl · 30/04/2022 10:34

I know this is an old thread but OP - can you confirm what pronunciation/spelling you went for please? Thanks!

MikeUniformMike · 08/04/2018 20:21

The flower is Dale-ya, but I'd say Dahl-ya if it was a name.
Delia is nice too.

ashleaka · 08/04/2018 18:32

Hi say Dhal-ia and I’m northern 😄

Marcipex · 08/04/2018 14:57

I knew an American girl called Dahlia, pronounced Darleea. Lovely name.

bridgetreilly · 08/04/2018 10:22

I admit, I've always assumed that people who say Dah-lia have learned the word by reading it, and just didn't know that it's actually pronounced Day-lia.

Joeybee · 06/04/2018 22:41

Dah-lia for sure.

chezmk1988 · 06/04/2018 22:40

Dar- lee-ah

MybabygirlD · 06/04/2018 19:31

Woody74 - op here

I did have a baby girl and I did call
her Dahlia, decided to pronounce it Dahl-ia.
However if I was talking about the flower I'd say Day-lia which I agree doesn't make sense when you think of how Anders Dahl would have pronounced his name!

pipilangstrumpf · 06/04/2018 18:27

I pronounce it as it is written, Dahl (Roald) - ia

There's no Y

Woody74 · 06/04/2018 16:54

Hi, I realise this post is somewhat out of date now, however, I too am intrigued by the pronunciation of this beautiful plant. I've always pronounced it Dah-lee-ah, using the spelling Dahlia. I'm 43 and grew up in East Anglia. Forever folk have taken the p**s out of me for my pronunciation! Today I spent a little time researching this and found out something really interesting, the Dahlia, like most plants, is named after a Swedish botanist - one, Anders Dahl. I don't expect Anders is pronouncing his surname as Day. Or his he? Lol, more research methinks. Interested to learn the outcome of this thread - What Did You Call Your Little Girl?

JennyOnAPlate · 19/04/2016 16:07

I've only ever head it pronounced Dar-lia. How would Dah ever be pronounced Day??

Grufalosfriend · 19/04/2016 15:44

I'd also pronounce Thalia as Thah-lia and not Thay-lia.

Grufalosfriend · 19/04/2016 15:43

I would never pronounce Dahlia as Day-lia, to me it looks like it should sound Dhal-ia, as that is how it is written. There is no y in it.