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Baby names

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

Original poster

Lydia & Ophelia

31 replies

Rio5555 · 07/04/2020 16:03

I already have an Lydia. Love Ophelia but is it too samey with the ‘ia’ ending?

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AuntyAnna · 08/04/2020 11:32

I think they go well together 😊. Although they end in the uh sound they otherwise sound quite different. I know a Ophelia her older Sister is Ferra.

babynamelover.wordpress.com/

augustusglupe · 08/04/2020 10:20

Lydia is my very favourite name btw and Ophelia compliments it. Not samey atall.

Whatsyourflava · 08/04/2020 10:16

I think Lydia and Ophelia are so gorgeous and work really well together as siblings.
Ophelia is one of my very favourite names and definitely on my list @Rio5555 - so beautiful

MikeUniformMike · 08/04/2020 09:58

I was aware of you already having a Lydia and it is by no means a criticism. It is a lovely name. Lydie is gorgeous.

You will get wise asses saying those things. If you are prepared for a cool cutdown they won't do it.

Forewarned is fore armed.

Original poster
Rio5555 · 08/04/2020 09:50

@MikeUniformMike @Silverspring ...my first daughter is already called Lydia so wasn’t after criticism of that name but 🤷🏼‍♀️ there’s not a single name that is liked by all.

I hope she doesn’t get Lydia chlamydia when she’s older however I don’t think any name is exempt from bullies. Rather than second guess her future i think it’s more important to focus on encouraging self confidence as that’s the best cure for seeing off cowardly bullies.

OP posts:
Charis1503 · 08/04/2020 09:49

Ottilie?

Ophelia is nice - but after some of these comments do hear ' Il feel ya up' Confused

Agree that Lydia and Ophelia dont 'go' but if thats not a concern then it shouldn't make a difference

I would expect siblings for Lydia to be...

Eleanor, Madeline, Alexandra, Martha

Siblings for Ophelia.....

Juliett, Persephone, Ariadne, Arietty, Octavia, Halcyon...

Umnoway · 08/04/2020 09:38

Lovely. Ophelia is on our shortlist.

BSintolerant · 08/04/2020 09:21

I remember a birth announcement in an Australian newspaper which read something like, “Mr and Mrs Dick: a daughter named Ophelia.” Grin

Jelly4444 · 08/04/2020 09:11

Love the name Ophelia but, to me, it doesn't work with Lydia. Also, I think Ophelia is too heavily associated with Hamlet, madness and death. Pity because it is a very pretty name.

There were twin sisters in my school called Lydia and Jessica. Always thought the names went well together.

TheWordmeister · 08/04/2020 07:55

Bit twee to have them both ending the same.

But my niece is Lydia and she’s always called Lydie or Lyds.

MikeUniformMike · 08/04/2020 07:52

Lydia and Lara are a bit matchy.

Silverspring · 08/04/2020 07:50

It’s a no from me too, I can’t be the only person that hums this every time I hear of a baby Lydia?

Lydia, Oh Lydia, that encyclopaedia...

TheMistressQuickly · 08/04/2020 07:43

Lara goes better and is a lovely literary name.

I love Ophelia though (Hamlet is my favourite WS play).

MikeUniformMike · 08/04/2020 07:38

It's a no from me. Lydia Chlamydia and Ophelia Tits.

Lydia is nice though apart from the nn Lyds. Stamp that one now. Lydie as a nn is very cute.

MsMarple · 08/04/2020 01:13

It sounds like your mind is made up OP, but just in case not: don’t do it!!
Ophelia was rejected, bereaved, went mad, and drowned. There is nothing but watery sadness and weed-strewn death about that name. On top of that the whole feel-ya sound is just going to be a gift for anyone who wants to pick on her.

If you really must have a tragic name, Cordelia or Juliet at least had some agency! Or Otillie if you want the O?
Or to go with your Grecian Lydia: Penelope, Helen, Irene (all due a comeback??), Ariadne, Hebe, Thalia, Xenia... sooo many lovely names to chose from, and all without the insane and suicidal connotations of Ophelia!

Astronica · 08/04/2020 00:04

They work well together as sisters.

finallychangedmyusername · 07/04/2020 21:50

To answer your question OP...I'd probably describe Ophelia as classical Greek/upper class. I know Shakespeare used it in Hamlet, but to me it's not a 'typical' Shakespearean name. Personally, I'd expect Ophelia's sister to be named Persephone, Athena or maybe Penelope or Cordelia.

And yep, I see Lydia as a lovely timeless name with biblical origins, but with a spark in popularity around the turn of the century (literary associations).

But having said all that, I am well aware that Lydia is also a Greek name (in origin)! So just my opinion and maybe they DO work well together! GrinSmile

Krazynights34 · 07/04/2020 19:16

I love both!
I have a Lydia and had a Grace.
I think they sound lovely together

Original poster
Rio5555 · 07/04/2020 19:13

@finallychangedmyusername what category would you put Ophelia in? So you see Lydia as classic/old/biblical/literary?

I don’t think I’m too fussed about them fitting as such but worries me that they sound completely jarring to some.

I was more concerned that the phonetic sound was too similar but I may have opened up a new concern!

OP posts:
daisypond · 07/04/2020 18:39

@finallychangedmyusername
Agree completely. You put it better than I did.

finallychangedmyusername · 07/04/2020 18:34

I agree; Ophelia seems quite surprising to me, as a sister for Lydia. I'd expect Lydia's sister to be named either something biblical (Tabitha, Abigail, Naomi) else something Austen-esque (Charlotte, Elinor, Emma). I don't think Lydia and Ophelia are too similar at all.

reefedsail · 07/04/2020 18:25

Lids n Off for short.

daisypond · 07/04/2020 18:23

I think it’s a very different style of name to Lydia. It jars. But I don’t think they are too similar in sound.

riotlady · 07/04/2020 18:20

Love it!

Picklypickles · 07/04/2020 18:15

Ophelia is lovely, I don't think its too similar to Lydia at all.

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