Dahlia first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Dahlia has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Dahlia

A feminine name derived from the Swedish word for dahlia flowers.

Popularity of Dahlia by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Dahlia is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,219 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Dahlia.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 1,219
2022 0 1,127
2021 0 1,038
2020 0 872
2019 0 846
2018 0 752
2017 0 795
2016 0 850
2015 0 776
2014 0 721
2013 0 694
2012 0 579
2011 0 538
2010 0 451
2009 0 445
2008 0 397
2007 0 356
2006 0 263
2005 0 192
2004 0 170
2003 0 177
2002 0 160
2001 0 131
2000 0 137
1999 0 128
1998 0 144
1997 0 124
1996 0 105
1995 0 70
1994 0 83
1993 0 44
1992 0 54
1991 0 46
1990 0 41
1989 0 48
1988 0 40
1987 0 29
1986 0 37
1985 0 44
1984 0 36
1983 0 36
1982 0 33
1981 0 39
1980 0 49
1979 0 55
1978 0 39
1977 0 59
1976 0 49
1975 0 41
1974 0 35

The history of the first name Dahlia

The name Dahlia is derived from the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl, who first described the dahlia flower in the late 18th century. The flower was named after him by another botanist, Abbe Cavanilles, who formally classified the dahlia genus in 1791. While the name has botanical origins, it has since transitioned into use as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries.

The dahlia flower itself is native to Mexico and Central America, where it has been cultivated since the 16th century. The first recorded use of Dahlia as a given name dates back to the early 19th century, likely inspired by the popularity of the dahlia flower in European gardens at the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Dahlia was Dahlia Slaney, an Irish woman born in 1824. Another early example is Dahlia Elizabeth Wooster, an American woman born in 1848 in New York.

Throughout history, the name Dahlia has been relatively uncommon, but there have been a few notable individuals who have borne this name. These include Dahlia Lithwick (born 1972), a Canadian-American journalist and legal commentator, and Dahlia Ravikovitch (1936-2005), an Israeli poet and peace activist.

In the world of entertainment, Dahlia Lithwick (born 1969) is an American actress known for her roles in films such as Pump Up the Volume (1990) and Crossing Delancey (1988). Dahlia Ravikovitch (born 1935) was an Israeli poet and peace activist who wrote extensively about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and was a prominent figure in the country's literary scene.

Another notable bearer of the name was Dahlia Lavi (1942-2017), an Israeli actress and singer who achieved international fame in the 1960s and appeared in several Hollywood films. Dahlia Lavi was born in British Mandatory Palestine and had a successful career in both Israeli and American entertainment industries.

While the name Dahlia has been used throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to more popular flower names like Rose or Lily. Nevertheless, its unique botanical origins and melodic sound have contributed to its enduring appeal as a given name.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dahlia was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dahlia, please contact us.

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"Dahlia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/dahlia-meaning-and-history/.

"Dahlia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/dahlia-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Dahlia first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/dahlia-meaning-and-history/.

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