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?

😂 @pinklavenders

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.

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

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

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??

okay...

there are two pronunciations.

the end.

@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.

"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.

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.

@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

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

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... 😉

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

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!

I think his aunts were Dahlia and Agatha.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.