Alternatives to Lydia

Loria

Basque

"glory"

While Aintza is perhaps a more accurate and modern Basque alternative to Gloria, Loria has long been considered a possibility too. It comes from loriatsua or loria meaning "glorious" or simply…

Lumia

Finnish, Italian

"snow; citron"

Although Lumi (Finnish for "snow") is far more popular, the elaboration Lumia is used in Finland as well. It's also a technical word in English for patterns of light used as an art form, and in…

Lydda

Biblical place-name

Lydda is the name of a Biblical town whose similarity to Lydia makes it plausible as a first name. But if you're considering Lydda, we can't help but wonder: Why not just stick with Lydia?

Lydian

Greek

"woman from Lydia"

A more unique take on Lydia — both names refer to Lydia, the area of Asia Minor recognized in the Bible. Lydian has an added musical connection, thanks to the Lydian mode — a chord progression often…

Lyndia

Lyndia is a feminine name that represents a variation of Linda or Lydia, combining elements of both these classic names. With Greek origins, the root name Lydia referred to a region in Asia Minor and…

Marianne

French combination of Marie and Anne

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + grace"

A midcentury Catholic classic that's not chosen by many parents today. Leonard Cohen fans might think of the beautiful song So Long, Marianne , named for his lover and muse Marianne Ihlen. The…

Milada

Czech

"my love"

An unusual spin on Mila and Milena.

Nidia

Greek

"she possesses sweetness and grace"

Ear-catching alternative to Lydia.

Nydia

Latin

"home"

Very rarely used, could provide a distinctive alternative to Lydia.

Olympia

Greek

"from Mount Olympus"

With its relation to Mount Olympus, home of the Greek gods, and to the Olympic games, this name has an athletic, goddess-like aura, making it the perfect Olivia substitute. A well-known art reference…

Rydia

Invented name

Rydia of Mist is a sprite-like character in the Final Fantasy video game series. Fans of the game may consider it for their daughters as a rarer alternative to Lydia. Rydia first appeared on the…

Lyrical

English word name

Lyric is a name given to over 1000 boys and girls each year in the US. Could the more feminine Lyrical (given to only 20 girls each year) become more popular as parents look to find less common…