Lydia
LID-ee-uh
A classic biblical place-name turned given name, linked to the ancient region of Lydia in Asia Minor and to St. Paul’s convert.
Meaning
Lydia is originally a geographical name, meaning a woman from Lydia in Asia Minor. In Christian tradition, the name became popular through the New Testament figure Lydia, the seller of purple whom St. Paul met at Thyatira. The name is therefore both a place-name and a biblical personal name.
Origin
Greekfeminine
Fun fact
19th-century name books note that Lydia’s popularity among English women was helped by its Scriptural association with St. Paul’s convert.