Dahlia
GirlEnglish · English: DAL-yə /ˈdæl.jə/, DAHL-yə /ˈdɑl.jə/ or DAYL-yə /ˈdeɪl.jə/, with stress on the first syllable.
Dahlia is a floral girl’s name with an elegant sound and a botanical story rooted in the surname Dahl.
Origin
English
Pronunciation
English: DAL-yə /ˈdæl.jə/, DAHL-yə /ˈdɑl.jə/ or DAYL-yə /ˈdeɪl.jə/, with stress on the first syllable.
The dahlia flower.
Dahlia brings a particular flower into a name: one with richly varied colors and, in many varieties, layers of petals. Its meaning is the flower itself. Behind that image lies a personal tribute, since the botanical name honors Anders Dahl, a Swedish botanist. The name feels lush on the page but light when spoken. A clear D gives it a defined opening, while the l and soft ending keep it flowing; that balance lends Dahlia an elegant, slightly romantic quality. Its different English vowel sounds also change its character: DAL-, DAHL- and DAYL- are all established options, so the spelling alone does not settle which one a family uses.
Etymology: Taken from the flower name, whose botanical form honors the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. The plant name was formed in New Latin; Dahlia is used as a feminine given name in English.
Spelling table
Code
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Braille
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Name popularity
Latest year: 2025
Girls
Rank215
Source
SSA records cover Social Security card applications, not every US birth. Names with fewer than 5 occurrences are omitted; gaps do not mean zero. Spellings are kept separate, except that SSA removes spaces and hyphens. Equal counts are ranked alphabetically. Ranks are calculated separately for boys and girls.
Origin
English