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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Lydia

43 replies

MissMoodyMoo · 14/07/2018 20:36

Still kind of obsessing over a name so seem to be posting nearly every day about new ones that pop into my head for opinions 🙈 anyway...
whilst watching TV earlier my hubby randomly came out with the name Lydia, I was pretty shocked as it's the first decent name he has suggested I actually really like it and it's growing on me but is it too old ladyish?

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m0therofdragons · 15/07/2018 18:50

Hate it. A) Lydia Bennett

Haha, I love it for this reason. I also have a Kitty. That wasn't intentional re P&P as both are family names.

My Lydia was one of 2 in her primary but now she's in year 6 and the only one. She often gets Lydie or Lyds, but most call her her full name.

runningtogetskinny · 15/07/2018 18:23

I've loved the name since I read H E Bates, Love for Lydia at school in 80s. My cousins daughter is called Lydia, it's a beautiful name

daisypond · 15/07/2018 18:13

I don't think it's old lady at all. It's a really nice name. But Lydia Bennet and Aunt Lydia do put me off it - if I think hard about it.

Cosmoa · 15/07/2018 17:43

I'm surprised by the old lady comments! It was going to be my sisters name (she's 25) but my Mum changed her mind last min.

I know another Lydia who is about 27...

And my cousin who is 9 is also called Lydia.

They're the only ones I know! It's a gorgeous name 😊❤

PinguDance · 15/07/2018 11:27

I think the novel of Madame doubtfire has a Lydia in it - I loved the name as a kid but now it makes me think of a poisonous flower. I think it works if you live in a place where everyone speaks quite RP but where I live it’d be ‘lid-ya’ or ‘lid-i-err’

Raines100 · 15/07/2018 06:35

Beautiful, classic name. Love it!

Fakingit36 · 15/07/2018 02:41

Beautiful and classic. I wouldn’t worry about the H.T. There is a beautiful Faure song in French Lydia (look at YouTube) which has always made me love it. It’s also in the New Testament - so it really goes way back.

RosinaAlmaviva · 15/07/2018 00:32

Tinywhale I think there was a Lydia in Noel Streatfeild's Gemma series? One of her "ballet-obsessed younger sister" characters?

It's a beautiful name. It doesn't sound old ladyish to me, more like a classic which has managed to avoid becoming a fad name so far.

Tinywhale · 14/07/2018 23:45

I’ve always really liked it since I was a kid.

Ballet shoes, Noel Streatfeild possibly? Might have got that wrong.

Picknickers · 14/07/2018 23:42

Belinda's worse. My friend was called bell end at school.

Greenteandchives · 14/07/2018 22:08

I like it, but a contemporary at school was always nn’d Binnie, as in Lidya dustbin.
What about Belinda?

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 14/07/2018 22:06

I like it but I do think it's becoming popular (the new Phoebe).

I also dislike it being abbreviated to Lyds

Helpimfalling · 14/07/2018 22:05

I actually love it

Zillcat · 14/07/2018 22:03

Love it. It's my number 1 girls name. If twins hadn't been boys then they were going to be Lydia and Phoebe.
FWIW I watch Handmaids Tale and it hasn't ruined the name for me.

Moominfan · 14/07/2018 21:57

the name of school bully growing up. Beetlejuice redeems it

CoodleMoodle · 14/07/2018 21:52

I love it! Wanted it for DC2 but he turned out to be a boy. If we ever have another girl I'd definitely have it on my list.

Ticcinalong · 14/07/2018 21:50

Like others posters, I am afraid that name has been seriously damaged by Handmaids tale character. I know this is a risk with all names but for some reason it’s just stuck badly, whereas Fred, who is an equally evil character hasn’t stuck the same, it’s weird how that happens - and I don’t suggest you call your daughter Fred regardless!

haverhill · 14/07/2018 21:46

Love it. Lydia is my favourite character in P&P.

MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood · 14/07/2018 21:46

I absolutely loved Lydia until the Handmaids Tale and now Aunt Lydia is kind of an insult for a certain type of bossy, controlling, right wing woman it was levelled at Trumps Press Secretary recently

Mind you I recently made a friend called Lydia and she's a darling

blondeemily · 14/07/2018 21:45

I love the name Lydia. It has never crossed my mind that it's an old lady name Confused

Flywheel · 14/07/2018 21:43

I take it you haven't been watching the hand maids tale

FogCutter · 14/07/2018 21:40

It's a lovely name. Classic and elegant. And not very common (only 1 Lydia in my DCs huge primary school).

Pittcuecothecookbook · 14/07/2018 21:33

Lydia the tattooed lady! Can't hear the name without that song getting stuck in my head...

HostaToFortune · 14/07/2018 21:32

Love love love love.

Was going to use it as a middle name, but then DS turned out to have a winky Shock

Then by the time DD turned up we preferred name ending in -ia for her first name, so Lydia was out. I’m still slightly sad.

But it is definitely growing in popularity. It’s now inside the top 100.

Amethystical · 14/07/2018 21:03

I really loved it for a long time until my brain (for some weird reason) made the link Lydia-Chlamydia, and now I can't undo it. It's still a beautiful, strong name.