Fun Facts About the Name Lydia
- Back among the favorites: Lydia returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 15 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 187 thousand babies named Lydia: U.S. records list 187,264 babies given the name Lydia from 1880 through 2025. Even 277 boys received the name Lydia - about 1 boy for every 675 girls.
What Does the Name Lydia Mean?
Lydia is a Greek name meaning "woman from Lydia," the name of an ancient region in western Asia Minor, in what is now western Turkey. Its Greek form is Lydia (Λυδία), the feminine of Lydos (Λυδός), "Lydian." The personal name began as an ethnic label for a Lydian woman or a woman from Lydia, not as a word describing a quality, so its literal sense is geographic.
The origin of the region's name is uncertain. Greek writers passed down a traditional story that the Lydians were named after a legendary king, Lydos, but that is an ancient explanation rather than a demonstrated etymology. The place name is not Greek in form, and its deeper meaning has not been reliably established. Later glosses such as "noble" or "beautiful" are symbolic associations attached to the name, not its derivation.
Lydia Name History & Origins
Lydia was a kingdom in western Anatolia with its capital at Sardis, remembered in Greek tradition for the wealth of its last king, Croesus. Greeks used Lydia for the region and Lydos for its people, and the feminine form appears as a personal name in the Greek-speaking world. The territory later formed part of the Roman province of Asia.
The best-known early bearer is Lydia of Thyatira in the New Testament (Acts 16), described as a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira who was living in Philippi, where Paul baptized her. The account presents her as the first convert there, and she is often called the first Christian convert in Europe. Through the Bible the name entered Christian use in Europe and beyond.
In England, Lydia was one of the biblical names favored by Protestant families; it appears in English use by the 17th century and grew more common in the 18th and 19th centuries. Jane Austen gave the name to Lydia Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1813), a well-known literary use of a name that was already established. It remains in use in English-speaking countries and in other parts of the world.
How Popular is the Name Lydia?
Lydia ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1899, then returned in 2011 and remained through 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #92 | 2,692 | 0.1675% |
| 2024 | #97 | 2,663 | 0.1651% |
| 2023 | #95 | 2,729 | 0.1703% |
| 2022 | #93 | 2,815 | 0.1718% |
| 2021 | #89 | 2,931 | 0.1788% |
| 2020 | #95 | 2,803 | 0.1735% |
| 2019 | #94 | 3,014 | 0.1797% |
| 2018 | #89 | 3,212 | 0.1889% |
| 2017 | #85 | 3,339 | 0.1935% |
| 2016 | #80 | 3,622 | 0.2045% |
| 2015 | #80 | 3,512 | 0.1968% |
| 2014 | #84 | 3,652 | 0.2045% |
| 2013 | #95 | 3,261 | 0.1859% |
| 2012 | #95 | 3,175 | 0.1803% |
| 2011 | #96 | 3,090 | 0.1757% |
| 2010 | #110 | 2,839 | 0.1597% |
| 2009 | #117 | 2,830 | 0.1541% |
| 2008 | #120 | 2,875 | 0.1521% |
| 2007 | #124 | 2,772 | 0.1442% |
| 2006 | #130 | 2,668 | 0.1403% |
| 2005 | #119 | 2,783 | 0.1506% |
| 2004 | #126 | 2,633 | 0.1434% |
| 2003 | #127 | 2,645 | 0.1448% |
| 2002 | #137 | 2,511 | 0.1397% |
| 2001 | #140 | 2,364 | 0.1313% |
| 2000 | #147 | 2,321 | 0.1278% |
| 1999 | #148 | 2,189 | 0.1234% |
| 1998 | #153 | 2,071 | 0.1172% |
| 1997 | #160 | 1,937 | 0.1113% |
| 1996 | #173 | 1,813 | 0.1034% |
| 1995 | #169 | 1,759 | 0.1000% |
| 1994 | #188 | 1,603 | 0.0898% |
| 1993 | #206 | 1,420 | 0.0785% |
| 1992 | #202 | 1,414 | 0.0767% |
| 1991 | #214 | 1,378 | 0.0735% |
| 1990 | #204 | 1,406 | 0.0741% |
| 1989 | #217 | 1,262 | 0.0685% |
| 1988 | #221 | 1,174 | 0.0659% |
| 1987 | #219 | 1,210 | 0.0696% |
| 1986 | #229 | 1,129 | 0.0658% |
| 1985 | #212 | 1,220 | 0.0709% |
| 1984 | #217 | 1,201 | 0.0713% |
| 1983 | #239 | 1,024 | 0.0613% |
| 1982 | #240 | 1,051 | 0.0621% |
| 1981 | #265 | 940 | 0.0564% |
| 1980 | #287 | 862 | 0.0519% |
| 1979 | #296 | 803 | 0.0500% |
| 1978 | #324 | 708 | 0.0462% |
| 1977 | #312 | 765 | 0.0499% |
| 1976 | #307 | 747 | 0.0510% |
| 1975 | #333 | 669 | 0.0459% |
| 1974 | #316 | 722 | 0.0492% |
| 1973 | #328 | 677 | 0.0464% |
| 1972 | #319 | 753 | 0.0495% |
| 1971 | #314 | 845 | 0.0508% |
| 1970 | #307 | 924 | 0.0529% |
| 1969 | #320 | 807 | 0.0478% |
| 1968 | #300 | 863 | 0.0526% |
| 1967 | #289 | 877 | 0.0531% |
| 1966 | #273 | 954 | 0.0564% |
| 1965 | #263 | 1,079 | 0.0611% |
| 1964 | #259 | 1,183 | 0.0624% |
| 1963 | #246 | 1,291 | 0.0670% |
| 1962 | #226 | 1,411 | 0.0717% |
| 1961 | #214 | 1,574 | 0.0780% |
| 1960 | #205 | 1,670 | 0.0826% |
| 1959 | #210 | 1,561 | 0.0771% |
| 1958 | #207 | 1,577 | 0.0784% |
| 1957 | #206 | 1,621 | 0.0793% |
| 1956 | #206 | 1,545 | 0.0770% |
| 1955 | #200 | 1,585 | 0.0811% |
| 1954 | #197 | 1,559 | 0.0803% |
| 1953 | #201 | 1,560 | 0.0829% |
| 1952 | #213 | 1,327 | 0.0716% |
| 1951 | #225 | 1,150 | 0.0639% |
| 1950 | #223 | 1,127 | 0.0658% |
| 1949 | #214 | 1,241 | 0.0725% |
| 1948 | #209 | 1,222 | 0.0720% |
| 1947 | #230 | 1,050 | 0.0592% |
| 1946 | #239 | 886 | 0.0564% |
| 1945 | #224 | 856 | 0.0655% |
| 1944 | #233 | 807 | 0.0608% |
| 1943 | #228 | 864 | 0.0619% |
| 1942 | #225 | 854 | 0.0632% |
| 1941 | #247 | 682 | 0.0565% |
| 1940 | #235 | 726 | 0.0635% |
| 1939 | #239 | 680 | 0.0620% |
| 1938 | #242 | 677 | 0.0614% |
| 1937 | #238 | 687 | 0.0646% |
| 1936 | #237 | 688 | 0.0661% |
| 1935 | #244 | 669 | 0.0638% |
| 1934 | #248 | 632 | 0.0605% |
| 1933 | #237 | 668 | 0.0663% |
| 1932 | #246 | 630 | 0.0590% |
| 1931 | #235 | 646 | 0.0607% |
| 1930 | #233 | 687 | 0.0610% |
| 1929 | #223 | 745 | 0.0667% |
| 1928 | #219 | 815 | 0.0707% |
| 1927 | #217 | 876 | 0.0735% |
| 1926 | #223 | 813 | 0.0686% |
| 1925 | #207 | 954 | 0.0784% |
| 1924 | #214 | 912 | 0.0730% |
| 1923 | #204 | 966 | 0.0801% |
| 1922 | #199 | 1,025 | 0.0853% |
| 1921 | #197 | 1,052 | 0.0853% |
| 1920 | #185 | 1,118 | 0.0933% |
| 1919 | #186 | 1,059 | 0.0937% |
| 1918 | #180 | 1,148 | 0.0992% |
| 1917 | #169 | 1,180 | 0.1091% |
| 1916 | #168 | 1,148 | 0.1099% |
| 1915 | #170 | 1,086 | 0.1104% |
| 1914 | #168 | 839 | 0.1102% |
| 1913 | #154 | 759 | 0.1215% |
| 1912 | #152 | 701 | 0.1256% |
| 1911 | #142 | 568 | 0.1358% |
| 1910 | #152 | 537 | 0.1354% |
| 1909 | #142 | 503 | 0.1449% |
| 1908 | #140 | 499 | 0.1493% |
| 1907 | #131 | 512 | 0.1607% |
| 1906 | #132 | 477 | 0.1615% |
| 1905 | #123 | 518 | 0.1776% |
| 1904 | #112 | 545 | 0.1979% |
| 1903 | #116 | 502 | 0.1916% |
| 1902 | #112 | 535 | 0.2026% |
| 1901 | #103 | 507 | 0.2118% |
| 1900 | #104 | 644 | 0.2148% |
| 1899 | #97 | 566 | 0.2429% |
| 1898 | #88 | 677 | 0.2616% |
| 1897 | #83 | 642 | 0.2741% |
| 1896 | #91 | 580 | 0.2438% |
| 1895 | #85 | 656 | 0.2808% |
| 1894 | #85 | 618 | 0.2772% |
| 1893 | #81 | 598 | 0.2809% |
| 1892 | #93 | 522 | 0.2458% |
| 1891 | #86 | 507 | 0.2733% |
| 1890 | #78 | 576 | 0.3026% |
| 1889 | #83 | 496 | 0.2781% |
| 1888 | #85 | 472 | 0.2642% |
| 1887 | #76 | 448 | 0.3069% |
| 1886 | #87 | 392 | 0.2712% |
| 1885 | #77 | 404 | 0.3036% |
| 1884 | #80 | 369 | 0.2860% |
| 1883 | #75 | 378 | 0.3365% |
| 1882 | #76 | 342 | 0.3171% |
| 1881 | #77 | 299 | 0.3252% |
| 1880 | #77 | 302 | 0.3319% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #11,443 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #10,360 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #13,306 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #11,648 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #13,251 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #9,744 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #5,156 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #8,724 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1987 | #4,451 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #3,572 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #4,814 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #6,907 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #6,971 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #6,870 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #6,667 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #6,400 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #4,608 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #4,264 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #5,164 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #4,309 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #3,436 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #4,408 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1962 | #4,413 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1960 | #3,906 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,349 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #3,781 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,817 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #4,264 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1943 | #3,122 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1942 | #3,871 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #2,429 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1940 | #3,762 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #3,785 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #2,609 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #3,054 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1935 | #2,479 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1930 | #4,335 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #4,330 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1928 | #4,502 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #3,661 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #4,723 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1920 | #4,697 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1902 | #1,244 | 5 | 0.0041% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Lydia
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Lydia Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Lydia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Lydia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.