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

Is Dahlia a nice name?

111 replies

EncantoDaisies · 24/05/2022 17:30

Hi all,

I found out I'm having a little girl today and we already named her before we knew and we've settled on Dahlia (Dah-Lia like the black Dahlia) Patricia Smith (not real last name but just as common).

But my DH is saying he like Dahlia-Rose but I think Dahlia is quite strong on its own but I'm not sure. I'm just questioning whether I actually think it's a nice name because originally I thought it was quite uncommon but not too unusual ..

What do you ladies (and men) think?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
stacestation · 01/06/2022 03:05

Dahlia is lovely, but be prepared to correct frequently for your preferred pronunciation.

Wooster fans will be familiar with Aunt Dahlia (pronounced Day-lia), and the flowers of course.

MatildaJayne · 27/05/2022 23:15

To me the flower is Day lia and the name Dah lia. So long as you don’t mind correcting people and you think your DD won’t mind, then it’s a nice name. Patricia isn’t to my taste, not granny chic yet, but a perfectly acceptable middle name.

soulinablackberrypie · 27/05/2022 22:28

I would normally pronounce this name Day-lia, which is how everyone I know pronounces the flower. But someone I know has a little girl called Dahlia now and they pronounce it... well, it's like Dah-lia but almost bordering on Dall-ia (like dilly dally). I'm not sure if they even knew about the flower or just saw it written down and liked the look of it without having heard it said. I don't think I would use this name just because of the potential for people to pronounce it a lot of different ways.

DuchessOfSausage · 27/05/2022 18:49

@pinklavenders , the examples show likely misspellings. I hadn't considered Dalia or Daliah

I don't know where you are but if you sound your Rs, dar and dah won't sound the same, but in many parts of the UK they will.

saraclara · 27/05/2022 18:31

pinklavenders · 27/05/2022 18:27

But Dar-lia isn't the same as Dah-lia or Day/lia.

That depends on whether or not your accent is rhotic. Where I live, they're the same. In the US and in other parts of the UK they're wildly different.

WakeWaterWalk · 27/05/2022 18:31

Dar Lia / Dah lia would be the same in my accent but not in my husband's.

Snowiscold · 27/05/2022 18:30

pinklavenders · 27/05/2022 18:27

But Dar-lia isn't the same as Dah-lia or Day/lia.

Darlia and Dahlia sound exactly the same to me, and to large sections of the population. It depends whether you have a rhotic accent or not.

pinklavenders · 27/05/2022 18:27

But Dar-lia isn't the same as Dah-lia or Day/lia.

DuchessOfSausage · 27/05/2022 18:12

@pinklavenders , see the following:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/baby_names/3256644-Dalia-for-a-girl
I'm really liking the name Dalia for a girl but I want it pronounced dar-lia rather than like the flower day-lia (spelt dahlia).

www.mumsnet.com/talk/baby_names/4293694-Baby-girl-names
Harvey and Darlia

www.mumsnet.com/talk/gardening/4554712-what-are-these-black-things-on-my-daliahs
daliah

pinklavenders · 27/05/2022 18:04

How can Dahlia get misspelled with an R Confused?

DuchessOfSausage · 27/05/2022 16:33

It will get misspelt as Darlia and Dhalia.

Shakeupandwakeup · 27/05/2022 15:05

I am not keen just because it's one of those names that everyone will mispronounce and it gets so tedious having to correct and explain and spell.

Could be a great middle name, though. The flowers, dahlias, are just the best.

GobbledyGeek · 27/05/2022 14:51

Dahlia is a lovely name. I’ve known two, both pronounced “Dah-lia”.

StarTwins · 27/05/2022 14:49

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 24/05/2022 18:05

Roald Dahl is not Roald Doll.

Show quote history

I bet in a Southern US accent they sound the same. Imagine a Southern drawl saying doll.

Oldandcobwebby · 27/05/2022 14:41

If I saw it written down, my first thought would be how it was to be pronounced; the British of the American way. If it was the American way, I would perceive that as being quite affected, to be honest.

curlymumof2 · 27/05/2022 14:32

This is a beautiful name. I wanted to name my daughter this

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 27/05/2022 14:14

I like flowers that are showy and bright. Good on the Dahlias. Not everything has to be understated and refined.

Pluvia · 27/05/2022 12:37

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 26/05/2022 19:38

To me, far too reminiscent of Bertie Wooster’s Aunt Dahlia and another aunt, bellowing at each other ‘like mastodons across the primeval swamp’.
Sorry!

Yes, I mentioned Wodehouse way upthread. I would probably have to stifle a giggle at being introduced to a Dahlia.

And dahlias have a certain sort of reputation in the horticultural world. Too showy, too bright and a bit naff.

larkstar · 27/05/2022 10:46

I had an aunt Delia - she was lovely. Not that dissimilar in sound and spelling and not common ATM.

WakeWaterWalk · 26/05/2022 19:49

I think his aunts were Dahlia and Agatha.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 26/05/2022 19:38

To me, far too reminiscent of Bertie Wooster’s Aunt Dahlia and another aunt, bellowing at each other ‘like mastodons across the primeval swamp’.
Sorry!

Trafficjamlog · 26/05/2022 14:14

Dah-lia which is the only way I have heard it said, it's quite popular round here. And Louis is loo-ee, please never lewis

WildCherryBlossom · 26/05/2022 14:08

Helena is another great example:

Midsummer nights dream - I think of the character as He- LAY-na

The island Napoleon was sent to: St He- LEE-na

Most people I know with the name: HELL- e - na

But I would check with her first... 😉

WildCherryBlossom · 26/05/2022 14:02

The various pronunciations of Esme and Evelyn have not diminished their popularity.

KirstenBlest · 26/05/2022 13:52

@EncantoDaisies , if you met someone called Karen, and she corrected you because she used the pronunciation Cair-en, would you have assumed anything? Would you think 'oh fgs'?

In the 1980s Anais Anais was a very popular scent. We all called it Anay Anay.
When a tv advert said Ana-ees Ana-ees, we were discussing it at school, cos we couldn't believe it

Swipe left for the next trending thread