Sidney
Boy name · #1323 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, 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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
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 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
How old is the name Sidney?
In official American birth records, the name Sidney first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 142 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. 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.