Sidney
Sidney: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsɪdni/
Meaning and origin of Sidney
Root meaning: “wide”
- A male or female given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
From Old English *Sīdaneġ, the name of a place in Surrey, from sīd (“wide”) + eġ (“island”).
How popular is Sidney?
Since 1880, 24,785 girls and 84,202 boys in the U.S. have been named Sidney (23% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #258 in 1999. Its highest rank for boys was #80 in 1912. In 2025, 251 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Sidney
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English unisex names
Sibling name ideas for Sidney
Sister and brother names that share Sidney's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Sidney FAQ
What does the name Sidney mean?
Sidney traces back to a root meaning "wide". A male or female given name transferred from the surname. From Old English *Sīdaneġ, the name of a place in Surrey, from sīd (“wide”) + eġ (“island”).
What is the origin of the name Sidney?
Sidney is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name Sidney?
Since 1880, 24,785 girls and 84,202 boys in the U.S. have been named Sidney (23% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #258 in 1999. Its highest rank for boys was #80 in 1912. In 2025, 251 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Sidney a boy or girl name?
Sidney is used for both boys and girls in the U.S. (24,785 girls and 84,202 boys since 1880).
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.