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The short answer
Lydia is a feminine name that means "from Lydia" in Greek. Lydia was a region on the west coast of Asia Minor, said to be named for the legendary king Lydos. Behind the Name notes that in the New Testament, Lydia is a woman converted to Christianity by Saint Paul, and that in the modern era the name has been in use since the Protestant Reformation. It is pronounced LID-ee-ə. In the United States it ranked #92 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Lydia as meaning "from Lydia" in Greek, referring to a region on the west coast of Asia Minor said to be named for the legendary king Lydos. In the New Testament, Lydia is the name of a woman converted to Christianity by Saint Paul. Behind the Name notes the name has been in use in the modern era since the Protestant Reformation.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | Lydia (place name) | a region of western Asia Minor, said to be named for King Lydos |
Popularity
Lydia ranked #92 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #92 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Liddy
Variants: Lyda
Related names: Lydie, Lidija
What the name feels like
Lydia has a gentle, classical sound thanks to its Greek place-name origin and its long history of Reformation-era and biblical use, sitting comfortably among other place- and virtue-inspired revivals.
Style tags: classical, biblical, place name, three syllables
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Lydia's biblical roots or its classical, place-name origin.
Similar by origin
- Lydie
- Lidija
- Chloe
Similar by meaning
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lydia mean?
Lydia means "from Lydia" in Greek, referring to an ancient region of western Asia Minor.
Is Lydia a popular name?
Yes. Lydia ranked #92 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Is Lydia a biblical name?
Yes, Behind the Name notes that Lydia is the name of a woman converted to Christianity by Saint Paul in the New Testament.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Lydia — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
