Sidney
Sidney is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Wide meadow or well-watered land.
Origin and history
Sidney is an English surname turned given name, originally derived from a place name meaning wide meadow. While historically used more frequently for boys, it gained steady use for girls in the United States during the late 20th century. Today, the spelling Sydney is more common for females, but Sidney remains a recognized classic variant.
Popularity in the United States
24,785 babies in the United States have been named Sidney since 1880. It ranks #923 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1320.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.3 %)
- TX (11 %)
- OH (5.8 %)
- NY (4.1 %)
- GA (3.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 114 |
| 1890-1900 | 170 |
| 1900-1910 | 197 |
| 1910-1920 | 438 |
| 1920-1930 | 568 |
| 1930-1940 | 697 |
| 1940-1950 | 951 |
| 1950-1960 | 892 |
| 1960-1970 | 571 |
| 1970-1980 | 327 |
| 1980-1990 | 781 |
| 1990-2000 | 6,964 |
| 2000-2010 | 8,401 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,894 |
| 2020-2029 | 820 |
Famous people named Sidney
- Sidney Prescott: Fictional Character
Nicknames
Sid, Syd, Siddie
Fun facts
- Sidney originated as an Old English place name describing a wide, well-watered island or meadow.
- For American girls, the alternate spelling Sydney became much more popular starting in the late 1990s.