Sidney

“Wide meadow; alternatively, named for Saint-Denis in France” — Old English/French origin

Boy's name · #1323 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Sidney has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #80 (1912) · 84,202 babies named Sidney all-time · 1 in 11,000 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,100 boys in England & Wales (2025) · about 1 in 2,000 boys in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 5,700 boys in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 14 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Sidneys

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)

In stories & tradition

Sidney — Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire · Pokémon Emerald
Sidney Potte — Little Nellie Kelly

What Sidneys become

Among 1,134 notable people named Sidney:

Lawyers & judges appear 1.59× more often than among typical names — e.g. Sidney Edgerton, United States lawyer and politician (1818-1900).

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.