I love the name [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f], it sounds so pretty, it’s a flower yet it still sounds powerful and mysterious to me, I love it, but in researching it I found out that it was once associated with a truly horrific murder back in the 1940s.
So now I just don’t know what to think, what do you think? Would you still use this name or not? The murder was a long time ago and it’s still unsolved and it was pretty famous one they even made a movie about it. The [name_m]Black[/name_m] [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f].
Another weird thing, the girl who was murdered has the same name as me, so I just don’t know but I do love the name!
Hmm, I’ve actually never really heard about anything you’re referring to, although The [name_m]Black[/name_m] [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] does sound vaguely familiar. I personally wouldn’t worry about it; if everyone else out there is like me, they’re first reaction to [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] will definitely not be associated with the murder. It’s such a pretty name, one of my favourite flower names, so I wouldn’t give it a second thought to be honest.
This is my first reply , so please forgive me if it comes out wrong. I sort of know how you feel. I love and I mean love, love, love the name [name_u]Riley[/name_u]. But, every time I think of using it I think of little [name_u]Riley[/name_u] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] Sawyers. WARNING [name_f]DO[/name_f] NOT [name_u]READ[/name_u] HER [name_u]STORY[/name_u] UNLESS YOU HAVE A STRONG STOMACH. It was a heinous murder of a baby girl. I am in a “bad” way glad someone else thinks the same way I do. I am sorry I cannot help more, but wanted to let you know you were not the only way that thinks of a name as belonging to something. As more than just a name. I hope this makes sense. I hope someone can help you.
I read the novel based on the case, I think there is no reason not to use the name as it as a flower first, it’s really only the combination ‘black dahlia’ that triggers my memory of the case/book/film. I’ve never once thought about it whilst looking at dahlias or going round the garden centre.
I do think of the murder first, but I’m also interested in true crime stories, so take that as you will.
I also think it might be a context thing. Obviously if you just read the word on the internet, your mind is going to start connecting it to other things that remind you of said word, but if you actually encounter a person wearing the name, you’re going to have a face and a personality to associate it with.
The first several pages of results for dahlia are of the flower, so there’s little worry of a little girl googling her name one day and being accosted by a murder case.
I think it is perfectly fine. I am not super familiar with the case but do remember that there was a movie [name_m]Black[/name_m] [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]. I don’t think it is a strong association. If we were to eliminate any name that is associated with a crime, criminal or victim, there would be no names left. I think it is good to be mindful of these things, but I agree with pp that the association would only be with the combination “[name_m]Black[/name_m] [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]”. Similarly, Ted Bundy was a very famous serial killer, does that mean that no one should use the name [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]/Ted anymore? No, but you probably would want to avoid it if your last name is Bundy or something that sounds similar. [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]/Ted is a common name throughout history and there are many association with it both good and bad. My first association with the name [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] would not be a murder but rather the flower. I don’t think the crime is recent enough or famous enough to eliminate the name.
I think about the flower first, anf wouldn’t automatically think about the murder unless mentioned to me. I think it’s pretty safe to use [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f].
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] is a name that’s actually gaining popularity right now as it fits in with the current nature/flower name trend - I doubt the murder is the first association for a lot of people.
If the name you were looking at was [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] “Ted” and your surname was Bundy, I’d say you’d have a problem, but otherwise, a name heavily connected to a single murder is not really an issue imo, even if it is famous.
Parents are/were still naming their babies [name_f]Sharon[/name_f] after [name_f]Sharon[/name_f] [name_u]Tate[/name_u]'s murder, [name_f]Caylee[/name_f] after [name_f]Caylee[/name_f] [name_m]Anthony[/name_m]'s death and [name_f]Nicole[/name_f] after the OJ [name_m]Simpson[/name_m] trial. If it personally bothers you, then perhaps you should skip it, but honestly I don’t see it as being too big of an issue.
I know a teen with that name and it is lovely. I am vaguely familiar with the story of the murder, but I never even thought about it in connection to her name until you mentioned it. I wouldn’t worry about it.
I, personally, am interested in crime and such, so I do know what you are talking about. I wouldn’t worry about people associating [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] to the murder, unless they have heard of the case. Thousands of people are murdered and go missing every year. It’s almost impossible to find a name that was never even remotely involved in crime.
I’ve never heard of this murder/story. All I think of is the gorgeous flowers! Personally, I would use the name. But it can come down to factors like whether the connection bothers you personally or whether people in your community are aware of the murder/likely to make the connection…
I actually think of the character from the TV show “Suburgatory” before the murder, but I did know of the murder. I don’t think you should let it dissuade you from the name, because it’s a great unique flower name.
I did guess that the name would be [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] before seeing the thread, but I have a cousin with the name who is the cutest, happiest little girl, so I think of her first. She and I do live in the UK, so maybe the association is less.
I’ve read The [name_m]Black[/name_m] [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] but would never associate the name with that. I just think of the flowers.
Same as [name_f]Primrose[/name_f], [name_f]Iris[/name_f], [name_f]Camelia[/name_f] etc.
When I read the title of the thread, I immediately knew you were talking about the name [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]. Although I think [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] is a lovely choice and think it’s still very useable.
Totally usable, and very lovely! [name_f]Glad[/name_f] to hear you’ve decided to use [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f].
It’s a tricky one when it comes to names linked to crimes or tragedies. I think it really depends on the familiarity of the name outside of the bad association. For example, the name [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] is still very widely used here in the UK despite it reminding many of the tragic disappearance of a little girl a decade ago, because it’s always been a fairly familiar and popular choice. There are plenty of other bearers to dilute the negative association. But names that feel equally “current” in terms of sound and style, like [name_f]Myra[/name_f] (Hindley) or [name_u]Tobin[/name_u] ([name_m]Peter[/name_m]), are so unusual that for most people the first point of reference is the murderer. I think Dahlia is familiar first and foremost as a beautiful flower in most people’s minds, so remains usable despite one unfortunate connection.