Sidney
Boy name · #1323 in 2025 · Uniqueness 70/100
In 2025, 146 baby boys were named Sidney, placing it at #1323 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1086, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 12,329 boys born in 2025 was named Sidney.
Babies named Sidney per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Sidney first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 142 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 1,879 boys were named Sidney — good for #94 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sidney against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sidney in class?
Sidney scores 70 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Sidney is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Sidneys were CA (14), NY (11), NC (9), IL (8), PA (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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 Aubrey, Charley, Percy, Milton, and Elmer.
AubreyCharleyPercyMiltonElmerHarryWileyLuther
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sidney | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 146 | #1323 |
| 2024 | 137 | #1371 |
| 2023 | 160 | #1230 |
| 2022 | 166 | #1200 |
| 2021 | 132 | #1383 |
| 2020 | 166 | #1160 |
| 2019 | 177 | #1112 |
| 2018 | 168 | #1141 |
| 2017 | 177 | #1100 |
| 2016 | 196 | #1022 |
| 2015 | 180 | #1086 |
| 2014 | 167 | #1137 |
| 2013 | 210 | #948 |
| 2012 | 226 | #916 |
| 2011 | 231 | #893 |
| 2010 | 259 | #827 |
| 2009 | 254 | #843 |
| 2008 | 270 | #812 |
| 2007 | 254 | #839 |
| 2006 | 255 | #801 |
| 2005 | 222 | #834 |
| 2004 | 267 | #717 |
| 2003 | 285 | #680 |
| 2002 | 274 | #676 |
| 2001 | 315 | #612 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sidney a popular boy name?
Sidney ranked #1323 among boys in 2025 with 146 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1086.
When was the name Sidney most popular?
Sidney peaked in 1918, when 1,879 American boys received the name (ranked #94 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sidney?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 12,329 newborn American boys was named Sidney. It scores 70/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.