Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sydney
GirlOld English, English· “from an English surname and place name”
- Meaning
- from an English surname and place name
- Origin
- Old English, English
- Pronunciation
- SIHD-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #348
- US babies 2025
- 873
- Best rank
- #23 (1999)
- Peak year
- 2000
Meaning and origin of Sydney
Sydney is an Old English and English name that is usually said to mean “from an English surname and place name”.
Sydney is a variant of Sidney, an English surname usually traced to a place name meaning "wide island" or "wide riverside land", from Old English sid and eg. A popular story links it to the French Saint-Denis, but that derivation is generally considered doubtful. The surname was borne by Sir Philip Sidney, the Elizabethan poet and soldier. The city of Sydney in Australia was named for Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, and gives the spelling a place association. Once mainly a boys' name, Sydney is now used mostly for girls in the United States. It feels bright, confident and modern, with Syd as a spunky short form.
Other spellings with the same sound: Sidney.
Popularity over time
Sydney first appears in US Social Security records in 1886. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 81 different years, starting in 1886. Its best national rank was #23 in 1999, and the most babies received it in 2000, when 10,243 were named Sydney. In 2025, 873 babies were named Sydney, and it ranked #348 nationally. That is 67% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,505 in 1920, #595 in 1950, #1,086 in 1980, #23 in 2000, #60 in 2010, and #348 in 2025. Of the 178,296 US girls named Sydney since records began, 43% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 55,756 babies. Since 2010, 34,710 more have been named Sydney.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Destiny, Haley, Julia, Kaitlyn, and Brianna.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sydney ranked highest in District of Columbia, Delaware, and Connecticut.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #90 | 9 |
| Delaware | #164 | 6 |
| Connecticut | #191 | 18 |
| Massachusetts | #195 | 29 |
| Rhode Island | #214 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Sydney over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Sydney is usually pronounced SIHD-nee, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-ey”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Sidney.
Middle names for Sydney
A few middle names that flow with Sydney: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sydney
Similar names
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LIHN-zee
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WIHT-nee
“white island” · Old English
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CHEHL-see
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HAY-lee
“hay clearing” · English
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“priest's clearing” · English
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“hay clearing” · English
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Harley Unisex
HAR-lee
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KEHL-see
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Lists that include Sydney
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sydney mean?
Sydney is an Old English and English name that is usually said to mean “from an English surname and place name”.
What is the origin of the name Sydney?
Sydney has Old English and English roots. Sydney is a variant of Sidney, an English surname usually traced to a place name meaning "wide island" or "wide riverside land", from Old English sid and eg.
Is Sydney a popular name?
Yes. Sydney ranked #348 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Sydney a boy or girl name?
Sydney is mainly a girl's name. About 98% of US babies named Sydney over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Sydney?
Sydney is usually pronounced SIHD-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings