Lydia

[mimimom]

Hello Berries,

I've posted a couple of times about names for my little one (due in May). I've recently discoved that I LOVE the name Lydia. I was relieved to see that its not in the top 100. But then I realized that it is in the top 50 in the state where I live (as well as several states around me). I don't want popularity to be the big deciding factor, but it does bother me that there might be lots of other little Lydias running around.

Are there any names similar to Lydia that you could suggest for me? I've already considered Sylvia, but DH doesn't seem to like it much.

Should I forget the popularity issue and just go with it? I feel like I'd be better at finding a name if I wasn't such a name nerd! If only I didn't obsessively look into every name that I like, I could just choose a name that sounds beautiful!

Thank you!
Mimi

[sillysheila]

I know what you mean about popularity. If it is an issue, I would suggest a variant of Lydia. Lydette. I knew a girl from high school named Lydette nn Lydie. I always thought it was such a beautiful name. Good luck!

[jesba]

I would wholeheartedly encourage you to just go with it. Top 50 is not top 10 and sometimes these things are just out of our control. I mean, you might pick something like in the 300s like Penelope (or something even lower!) and randomly the two other Penelopes born in your city could be zoned for the same school as your daughter. Meanwhile, you might name her something at or close to #1 like Ava and through statistical noise there might randomly be no other Ava zoned for her school. Popularity just means a name is well-liked. It can mean "trendy" but Lydia is a name with a lot of history so it's grounded, even if it continues to climb.

But, if you want to consider some others, that is understandable too and here are some (I'm not sure these are actually all lower in popularity than Lydia but suspect strongly most of them are):

Claudia - particularly love it for nicknames Clo or Clio, personally
Nydia - I'm not crazy about the sound of this, although it could grow on me. I figure it would just be misheard as Lydia / thought to be a kreateeve take on it, although it is actually a name with its own history. It's out there for your consideration.
Nadia - combines Claudia and Nydia, but feels very Russian compared to Latinate Lydia.
Junia - shares with Lydia being one of the relatively few women mentioned in the New Testament, shares a rhythm, overlaps with stylish June and Juno.
Linnea - a Scandinavian flower name that can be pronounced LIN-ee-a, lin-AY-a or lin-AY. LIN-ee-a is closest to Lydia although it might just be misheard as Lydia. The other two pronunciations are less intuitive and she'd probably have to explain and spell her name somewhat (although I do think this name is growing in popularity a little). So, a name with some limitations, but I think it's very pretty and it does look a lot like Lydia / sound a lot like it in one variant.
Dahlia - a flower name with most of the same sounds as Lydia, put in a different order.
Natalia - kind of same connection as Dahlia.
Odelia - see above two.
Ottilia - see above two. Really like nn Tillie, personally.
Cecilia - in that kind of familiar Latinate family. Love nn Cecily. Also like Cecily on its own but that's probably further from Lydia?
Lavinia - ditto Cecilia. Feels kind of old-lady to me, but I still see some appeal.
Letitia - ditto Lavinia. The t-i-t letter sequence is mildly unfortunate.
Julia - ditto Cecilia and other Latin ladies but it's probably more common than Lydia? But still not super-popular Olivia : D.
Amelia - ditto Julia.
Delilah - a lot of similar sounds to Lydia. I personally can't deal with the Bible story, but plenty of parents can. It is a lovely sound.

Best wishes!

[ljandrl]

Claudia
India
Livia
Livana
Alida
Elodie
Alodia
Nadia
Lilia
Linnea

Lydia's a long time favourite of mine and I wanted to use it because it was a favourite of my late grandmothers too, but it's very popular here in the UK too and a friend of mine has a little Lydia so it's off the cards for me, but we've chosen Claudia instead which I think is a gorgeous classic alternative, which isn't is popular at the moment. If it wasn't Claudia I think it's be India, I adore the nn's Claudie, Indie and Lydie!

Good luck choosing a name!

[holbs]

Wow, top 50!? I had no idea Lydia was so high up in places. I adore this name, but here are some suggestions in case you decide you can't live with such high occurrences:

Celia
Selma
Nona
Leda
Althea
Livia
Dianna
Flavia
Dahlia
Lenora or Leora

Also, just as a little addition--I knew a Lydia growing up who had sisters Clementine "Clemmie" and Florence "Flo", which I thought all went together nicely.

[savannahjune]

I would defninetly go with Lydia. Top 50 doesn't seem like too big of a deal. Personally, I have never met anyone with that name! (I'm in the US too.) It seems like you love it and it really is a gorgeous, classy name. To answer your question, yes! Forget the popularity and go with it. Don't worry, all us name nerds can relate to your troubles!! Lol

[irisrose]

Lydia is gorgeous and a total classic. Don't worry about popularity!

[pickles]

I LOVE Lydia. I live in NY and have NEVER met a child under the age of 14 with this name.
Everything is regional. Go for it!

[grey56]

Someone on here said to me, you can't choose what other people will name their kids, you can only choose what you name your kid. I liked that. :-) I offer the same tidbit to you.

I don't think of Lydia as being super popular. I have always thought this name was lovely. I do like some of the other suggestions of Claudia, Nadia, etc. We are using Nina for a girl. In the end, you choose what you want. :-) Good luck!

[sweetpea2peanut]

Lydia is a lovely name. I have met/heard of several recently but not dozens. Another name that I thought of that fits the name ending is Magnolia (love nn. Maggie & Nolie).