Is Dahlia a nice name?

[EncantoDaisies]

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?

I think Dahlia-Rose is a bit too... flowery. Bordering on twee, for me.

I also think Patricia doesn't go with it, with both being three syllables and ending in a, they're just too similar. I assume it's a family name and you're committed? I'd explore other first name options.

On the flip side, I am American so I automatically pronounce Dahlia how you like it! I didn't realise it had a different pronunciation here, but then I don't go in for much flower chat. 😆

Yes, my sons name is Loo-ee spelt Louis but other people mistake it for Lewis.

Roald Dahl is not Roald Doll.

Apologies, I thought you meant you pronounced it Lewis.

Dahlia is nice, Dahlia-Rose is not as nice, mostly as it's a double barrelled first name which I don't think is great.
I wouldn't worry about pronunciation, she will tell people and if they care they will get it right.

I think Dahlia is lovely. I'm in England and I've only ever heard it pronounced Dah-lia as a name (I've known two people with it albeit about 20yrs ago).

I've got a name that is 50/50 on pronunciation when people see it written down. It doesn't particularly bother me. Once I've told people once they get it right after that. I've got so many colleagues who aren't English with names that aren't obvious to pronounce that no one cares about being gently corrected. My name also isn't easy to spell if you've only heard it and the only time people getting it wrong annoys me is when I email them and they reply to my correctly spelt email and still get it wrong!!

That's a very long winded way of saying go for it if you like it and don't be put off by people saying it can be pronounced two different ways.

Personally I wouldn't go for a double barrelled name. As others have said, the second half will most likely be lost by the time they hit secondary school (the only person I've known with a double barrelled first name that stuck was a Sarah-Jane and even then it was only half time!).

What
Dahlia Belle Smith
Dahlia Grace Smith
Dahlia Elle Smith
Dahlia Marie Smith
Dahlia Lou Smith

Things with one syllable tends to flow better.

I've only ever heard people say Dah-lia too and I'm NW England. So I'd say it your way. I like it 🤷🏻‍♀️

It comes up here all the time but….,.how can a middle name ‘not go’ with a first name?

Nobody will say both names together and other than the passport office nobody will even know what her middle name is!

I pronounce the first name Dah-Lie-A.
Its not my favourite name but is better on its other than with Rose tacked on to the end.

It would make me think if PG Wodehouse's Aunt Dahlia, who was one hell of a woman but possibly not in the way you would appreciate.

Dahlia is nice enough but not my style.
It feels slightly fussy and prim to me.

I love Patricia though. That would be a great choice.

@Youcansaythatagainandagain , because on MN middle names need to be one syllable

Some names just don't flow very well or the combination is a bit silly.
I think Patricia is a nice middle name, and more interesting than the Rose/Grace/May/Hope/Joy/Jane/Anne... type ones

I know loads of Sarah Janes but only one Sarah Patricia and it seems far more memorable

I can honestly say that apart from family members, I do not know anyone’s middle name!
If, for some bizarre reason, they informed me of their middle name, I would not remember it even an hour later!

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.

Not really, no.

In my limited experience, English people pronounce “Louis” as Loo-iss if it’s the name of an English person and as “Loo-ee” if it’s a French name, eg the French kings.

I know one Lewis and one Louis, both English, and both call themselves “Loo-is”

My gardening Northern father always grew “Day-li-as.” I didn’t like them because they harbour earwigs, which crawl out when you bring the flowers inside.

I’m British and would have said Dah-lia. I like it. Not with the -Rose though. It’s a strong name that doesn’t need a hyphenated meh name.

Dahlia is gorgeous. Not keen on hyphenated. How about Dahlia Patricia Rose?

In my limited experience, English people pronounce “Louis” as Loo-iss if it’s the name of an English person and as “Loo-ee” if it’s a French name, eg the French kings.

I don't think you can get any more english than the Duchess of Cambridge. Louis is pronounced Louie in the UK

It's not. That's a sweeping generalisation. It often is but the Louises I know pronounce it Lewis. It can be said either way.

Dahlia is really pretty. I knew a German Dahlia years ago, she was petite and graceful, wore vintage 50s style dresses and reminded me of an exotic bird.

I think Dahlia Rose flows well but is perhaps too floral. I would stick with Dahlia Patricia, or go with the Italian spelling Patrizia (Pah-TREE-tseeah). Or perhaps extend Rose to Rosalind? Too long?

I think Dahlia is fabulous and I would say Dar-Lee-a

Thank you everyone for your opinions. I think with any name some people love it, some hate it and some are indifferent but it's good to know what people think.

Patricia is none negotiable as a middle name so if anyone could suggest names that do go with it, I'd love to hear them.

I think if she's going to be called Dahlia then I'm not going to pop rose on the end of it, too flowery and Dahlia is pretty strong.

She isn't due until November so I might have changed my mind by then anyway. I really liked Meredith but DH vetoed it straight away complaining she'd come out with a blue rinse

Dahlia isn't to my taste but I love Patricia, very strong, chic and due a revival! How about that as a first name? Patricia Dahlia or Patricia Rose

Meredith is gorgeous too