Lydia
Lydia comes from the Greek "Ludia," meaning "from Lydia" — a region of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) whose people were known for their wealth and trade. In the New Testament (Acts 16:14), Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira who was converted by Paul and became the first European convert to Christianity. The name thus has both classical and biblical roots. Lydia was a top-200 American name from 1880 to 1910, declined mid-century, and then had a remarkable revival. It re-entered the top 100 in 2013 and continues to climb. Lydia Davis (born 1947), the short story writer who won the Man Booker International Prize in 2013, is one of the most respected contemporary American writers. Lydia Lunch (born 1959), the no-wave singer, gave the name an avant-garde charge. I find Lydia has an elegant, slightly vintage quality — the "L" opening is gentle, the "d" gives it weight, and the "a" ending gives it openness. The name is climbing strongly. Lydia is a female name of Greek (place name) origin that means "From Lydia (region of Asia Minor)". Elegant, vintage, and quietly literary. The name sounds graceful. Lydias tend to be artistic. US top 100 since 2013. Rising. Well-known people named Lydia include Lydia (biblical convert), Lydia Davis (writer), Lydia (Greek region), Lydia (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Lydia include Lidia (Italian/Polish), Lidiya (Russian), Lydianne (elaboration), Lydie (French).