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    The first name Sidney

    A unisex name from English meaning “wide”, “island”.

    Pronounced /ˈsɪdni/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Sidney means “wide”, “island” in English.

    From Old English *Sīdaneġ, the name of a place in Surrey, from sīd (“wide”) + eġ (“island”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 247 boys were named Sidney, making it the 203rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 319 births (#168).

    0200400 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    5,484
    babies named Sidney, 1996–2025
    #203
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Sidney with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Sidney at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 146 boys born in the United States were named Sidney, the 1,327th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 1,879 were.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    108,987
    babies named Sidney since 1880
    #1,327
    rank in 2025
    1918
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Sidney

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Sidney

    128 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Sidney Poitier
      Bahamian and American actor and diplomat (1927–2022)
    • Sidney Lumet
      American director, producer and screenwriter (1924–2011)
    • Sidney Sheldon
      American writer (1917–2007)
    • Sidney Altman
      Canadian American molecular biologist (1939-2022)
    • Sidney Govou
      French footballer (born 1979)
    • Sidney Crosby
      Canadian ice hockey player, born 1987
    • Sidney Bechet
      American jazz musician, 1897–1959
    • Sidney Webb
      English socialist economist, 1859–1947 (1859–1947)
    • Sidney Sam
      German association football player, born 1988
    • Sidney Nolan
      Australian artist (1917–1992)
    • Sidney Howard
      American playwright (1891–1939)
    • Sidney Lanier
      American musician and poet (1842–1881)

    More English unisex names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Sidney mean?
    Sidney means “wide”, “island” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Sidney?
    From Old English *Sīdaneġ, the name of a place in Surrey, from sīd (“wide”) + eġ (“island”).
    How popular is the name Sidney?
    In 2025, 247 boys born in England and Wales were named Sidney, ranking 203rd. Its peak was 2021, with 319 births.
    What are nicknames for Sidney?
    Common nicknames for Sidney include Sid.
    Is Sidney a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 108,987 US babies named Sidney since 1880, 23% were girls and 77% boys.
    When was Sidney most popular?
    1918 in the United States, when 1,879 babies were named Sidney, its highest rank at 94th.
    How do you pronounce Sidney?
    Sidney is /ˈsɪdni/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Sidney?
    Sydney, Cydney, Sydnie, Sydne and Cidny.
    Is Sidney also a surname?
    Yes. Sidney is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.