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The short answer
Dahlia is a modern English feminine name taken from the flower. Behind the Name explains that the flower "was named for the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl", so the name's meaning is the plant itself rather than any older word. Behind the Name gives three English pronunciations: DAL-yə, DAHL-yə and DAYL-yə. Forms in other languages include Dalia (Arabic, Spanish), Dalija (Bosnian, Croatian, Lithuanian, Serbian, Slovene) and Dàlia (Catalan). In the United States Dahlia ranked #215 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Dahlia as "from the name of the flower, which was named for the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl", and marks the usage as English (Modern). The chain is therefore surname to genus name to given name. Behind the Name lists the root simply as the word dahlia and gives related forms Dalia (Arabic, Spanish), Dalija (Bosnian, Croatian, Lithuanian, Serbian, Slovene) and Dàlia (Catalan).
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | dahlia | the flower, named after Anders Dahl |
| Swedish | Dahl (surname) | surname of the botanist Anders Dahl, for whom the flower is named |
Popularity
Dahlia ranked #215 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration); Behind the Name records the same rank. No rankings outside the United States were checked in this pass.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #215 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Dalia, Dalija, Dàlia
Related names: None documented.
What the name feels like
Dahlia sits with the botanical names but feels a shade more dramatic than Lily or Rose: a dark, showy bloom, a silent h and a liquid -lia ending. The competing pronunciations give it a slightly cosmopolitan air.
Style tags: flower name, nature name, modern, three syllables
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Behind the Name lists no nicknames for Dahlia; none are invented here.
If you like this name
Other flower names, and names with the same -lia ending.
Similar by style
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dahlia mean?
Dahlia is the name of a flower, which Behind the Name says was named for the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. As a given name it refers to the flower.
How do you pronounce Dahlia?
Behind the Name gives three English pronunciations: DAL-yə, DAHL-yə and DAYL-yə. All three are in use.
Is Dahlia a popular name?
Dahlia ranked #215 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Dahlia — supports etymology, pronunciation, related names.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
