Declining since 1994, #1,323 for boys today.
Popularity of Sidney since 1880
Babies named Sidney per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sidney's real moment was 1912.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 114 | 1,505 |
| 1890s | 170 | 1,612 |
| 1900s | 197 | 1,981 |
| 1910s | 438 | 12,793 |
| 1920s | 568 | 14,201 |
| 1930s | 697 | 9,420 |
| 1940s | 951 | 9,608 |
| 1950s | 892 | 9,632 |
| 1960s | 571 | 6,844 |
| 1970s | 327 | 3,817 |
| 1980s | 781 | 3,333 |
| 1990s | 6,964 | 3,829 |
| 2000s | 8,401 | 2,729 |
| 2010s | 2,894 | 1,991 |
| 2020s | 820 | 907 |
Meaning & origin
Sidney entered U.S. birth records in 1880 and saw its peak popularity in 1912, ranking 1323 in 2025. The name has been in a falling trajectory since 1994, but retains steady use as a unisex choice. In the 1910s decade, it was especially popular in South Carolina (SC), Virginia (VA), and Washington (WA). Its distinctive Old English etymology and association with Sir Philip Sidney give it a literary, classic appeal that transcends gender boundaries.
Sidney originated as a surname derived from an Anglo-Saxon place name. The first element comes from Old English 'sīd' meaning 'wide' or 'spacious', combined with 'īeg' meaning 'island'. The surname was later adopted as a given name, popularized by the 16th-century poet and courtier Sir Philip Sidney. By the 19th century it had become a unisex name in English-speaking countries.
Where Sidney is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Sidney” around the world
Where Sidney lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sid, Siddy
Variants: Sydney
Sibling names for Sidney
Names that share Sidney's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Sidney
Names whose popularity has moved with Sidney's over the last 50 years.
