Sidney
Girl name · #1872 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Sidney? In official American birth records, Sidney has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 105 baby girls were named Sidney, placing it at #1872 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #997, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 17,143 girls born in 2025 was named Sidney.
The 145-year story
Sidney first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 16 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 1,221 girls were named Sidney — good for #265 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Sidney per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sidney against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sidney in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sidney is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Sidney will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sidney is most common
State-level data for Sidney is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Sidney
Statistically, parents drawn to Sidney tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Macey, Carley, Vianey, Kailey, and Kayley.
MaceyCarleyVianeyKaileyKayleyChesneyKeeleyKarley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sidney | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 105 | #1872 |
| 2024 | 117 | #1732 |
| 2023 | 128 | #1627 |
| 2022 | 165 | #1387 |
| 2021 | 164 | #1347 |
| 2020 | 141 | #1510 |
| 2019 | 179 | #1287 |
| 2018 | 215 | #1135 |
| 2017 | 225 | #1120 |
| 2016 | 260 | #1018 |
| 2015 | 270 | #997 |
| 2014 | 295 | #916 |
| 2013 | 282 | #906 |
| 2012 | 323 | #831 |
| 2011 | 413 | #680 |
| 2010 | 432 | #670 |
| 2009 | 571 | #529 |
| 2008 | 583 | #524 |
| 2007 | 668 | #486 |
| 2006 | 745 | #426 |
| 2005 | 834 | #378 |
| 2004 | 836 | #374 |
| 2003 | 951 | #330 |
| 2002 | 939 | #326 |
| 2001 | 1,053 | #296 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Sidney?
In official American birth records, the name Sidney first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 16 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Sidney a popular girl name?
Sidney ranked #1872 among girls in 2025 with 105 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #997.
When was the name Sidney most popular?
Sidney peaked in 2000, when 1,221 American girls received the name (ranked #265 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sidney?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 17,143 newborn American girls was named Sidney. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.