Liddie, also spelled Lydia, is of Greek origin and means "noble". It was initially used as a male name but eventually became more common for females. The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages through the early modern period, often attributed to the character Lydia in the New Testament who is believed to be the first person converted to Christianity by Saint Paul. In English-speaking countries, Liddie experienced peak usage during the late 19th century but has since declined in popularity. It is often associated with the Scottish dialectal form of Elizabeth, though it can also stand alone as a given name. Some famous bearers include American abolitionist Lydia Maria Child and English playwright Thomas Middleton's character Lady Liddy in his comedy "The Family of Love".
"The name Liddie experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the decades. In its early years (1880-1900), it showed some consistency with an average of around 16 births per year. However, between 1900 and 1925, there was a notable increase, peaking at 33 births in 1916. After World War II, the popularity of Liddie declined sharply, falling below 10 births per year from 1947 onwards, and reaching as low as 5 births per year between 1952 and 1962. In recent times (2009-2018), Liddie has seen a resurgence with 8 and then 5 births respectively."