Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

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
Original poster
EncantoDaisies · 26/05/2022 12:25

KirstenBlest · 26/05/2022 12:23

People roll their eyes when they are corrected and usually just think the person is a bit up themselves.

Oh well maybe people shouldn't just assume and ask the question if they don't want to be corrected.

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 26/05/2022 12:23

People roll their eyes when they are corrected and usually just think the person is a bit up themselves.

Original poster
EncantoDaisies · 26/05/2022 12:12

"People don't like to be corrected"

I don't think that's a good enough reason really. They will be corrected like they are with my son.

There's a few ways to pronounce it, it's not a big deal.

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 26/05/2022 12:01

@pinklavenders , everyone I know calls the dahlia flower 'daylia'.
TV gardeners like Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock, Bunny Guinness, Kim Wilde and the like say it as daylia.

Classica · 26/05/2022 11:46

pinklavenders · 26/05/2022 11:30

The flower is pronounced Daylia and it's a popular flower.

I and others I know pronounce the flower Dahlia as Dah-lee-a.

Maybe the flower has been incorrectly pronounced for years??

there are two pronunciations.

the end.

Classica · 26/05/2022 11:46

KirstenBlest · 26/05/2022 11:11

Makes me think of dahl.

I wouldn't see that fact that there are two different pronunciations as much of a problem though.
I would. The flower is pronounced Daylia and it's a popular flower. Having to correct someone is a PITA and people don't like to be corrected

okay...

pinklavenders · 26/05/2022 11:30

The flower is pronounced Daylia and it's a popular flower.

I and others I know pronounce the flower Dahlia as Dah-lee-a.

Maybe the flower has been incorrectly pronounced for years??

KirstenBlest · 26/05/2022 11:11

Makes me think of dahl.

I wouldn't see that fact that there are two different pronunciations as much of a problem though.
I would. The flower is pronounced Daylia and it's a popular flower. Having to correct someone is a PITA and people don't like to be corrected

Eightieschildren · 26/05/2022 10:52

It’s an awful name. I wouldn’t saddle anyone with it.

Classica · 26/05/2022 10:49

The Black Dahlia being such a strong cultural reference would give me pause. I'd hope she wouldn't be pestered by true crime nerds wanting to talk about that grizzly murder all the time.

I wouldn't see that fact that there are two different pronunciations as much of a problem though.

Weefreetiffany · 26/05/2022 10:00

pinklavenders · 25/05/2022 11:05

You don't say Thay-lia for Thalia?!

😂 @pinklavenders

Talipesmum · 25/05/2022 11:52

Snowiscold · 24/05/2022 19:17

Dahlia is fine. I’d say Day-lia first off, but Dahl-ia second. Don’t hyphenate with Rose. It’s twee and two flower names aren’t great.

This. It’s much stronger name just by itself. I think it’s a great name actually. I know there are varying pronunciations so would use whichever you told me to, but I’d expect it to be pronounced in a variety of interesting ways throughout her life!

Lesserspottedmama · 25/05/2022 11:50

Oh it’s so lovely!

KirstenBlest · 25/05/2022 11:48

Fuchsia is Fewsha not Fooksia

DahliaMacNamara · 25/05/2022 11:35

pinklavenders · 25/05/2022 11:05

Dahlia is beautiful.

It's Dah lee ah. Why are some people suggesting it's Day lee ah?? There's no Y.

You're expecting English pronunciations to be logical?
The flower is pronounced day-lia. If you want an English flower name, that's the way to go. If you feel dah-lia sounds more elegant, that's a legitimate choice.
I agree with pps that an additional hyphenated flower would be gilding the lily, so to speak.

Goldfishmountainclimber · 25/05/2022 11:22

Love it! Always like a flower name! But just use Dahlia on its own, not hyphenated with Rose. I think that spoils it. Let Dahlia stand alone as a beautiful flower in its own right!
🌺 🌺🌺

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 25/05/2022 11:17

Dahlia is lovely, very elegant imo. I don't think the pronunciation thing is a big deal personally - there are 2 accepted pronunciations in the UK (just as there are 3 for Helena etc). Gardeners/flower lovers will use "Day-lee- ah" until you/she tell them otherwise, others (particularly those familiar with the US pronunciation) will use "Dah -lee -ah".

Dahlia Patricia is fine - since Patricia is usually "Pah - trish -ah", I think the double "ia" ending doesn't matter. Dahlia Rose is too much floral.

mubarak86 · 25/05/2022 11:08

British here and I say dah-lia. It's a lovely name. Do not put it with Rose though, complete overkill IMO.

pinklavenders · 25/05/2022 11:05

You don't say Thay-lia for Thalia?!

pinklavenders · 25/05/2022 11:05

Dahlia is beautiful.

It's Dah lee ah. Why are some people suggesting it's Day lee ah?? There's no Y.

BeanyBops · 25/05/2022 10:57

I love the name dahlia! Would have seriously considered it for my DD but it clashes horribly with our last name. It's beautiful. I don't see how anyone can mispronounce it that badly in the UK

LookingGlassMilk · 25/05/2022 10:51

Dahlia is a beautiful name. I would pronounce it Day-lia, but it is lovely pronounced either way.
My name has a vowel dipthong in it that is prounounced differently in different countries, and it doesn't really bother me which way my name is pronounced. I still recognise it as my name.

Weefreetiffany · 25/05/2022 10:42

I pronounce it Dah-lia but dayleeuh is the usual way in the U.K.

how About Talia (or Thalia)? If you like the name and want to be less ambiguous about the pronunciation?

MindPalace · 25/05/2022 10:37

I love it. Am in the uk and wouldn’t have considered day-lia. Dah-lia seems the right way to me.

ElenaSt · 25/05/2022 10:36

I just always think of black dahlia which is such a shame as it is a pretty name.