Lydia
How to say it: LID-ee-uh · /ˈlɪdiə/
From Greek 'Lydia', denoting a woman from the ancient kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor, known for its wealth and culture.
Lydia was the 115th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 2,692 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are down about 23% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #131 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #115 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 2,692 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,173 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | −23% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #131 |
| In France, 2025 | #406 among girls’ names, 105 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Faint by the 1970s after an early high in the 1880s, Lydia later returned. Still well short of that early peak, it is expected to drift lower next.
What goes with it
Light and gentle with soft tones sharpened by crisp consonants, Lydia has biblical roots. Clara complements elegantly, and Liddy offers a sweet pet version.
Middle names that flow with Lydia →
Nicknames
- Liddy
- Lydie
Honouring a Lydia in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Lydia is about 1 in 49.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #406 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #159.
Famous people named Lydia
- Lydia Davis (born 1947)American writer
- Lydia Koidula (1843–1886)Estonian poet
- Lydia Cacho (born 1963)Mexican journalist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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