Sydney
Every Sydney since 1880 — 187,700 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Sydney
Sydney is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #348 in 2025 with 873 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 187,700 American babies have been named Sydney — about 95% girls and 5% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2000, when 10,369 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Sydney stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Sydney year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 873 | #348 | 20 | #5,021 |
| 2024 | 1,104 | #288 | 26 | #4,179 |
| 2023 | 1,003 | #307 | 37 | #3,279 |
| 2022 | 1,169 | #272 | 31 | #3,680 |
| 2021 | 1,231 | #249 | 38 | #3,169 |
| 2020 | 1,246 | #241 | 31 | #3,559 |
| 2019 | 1,535 | #197 | 40 | #3,044 |
| 2018 | 1,757 | #164 | 36 | #3,229 |
| 2017 | 2,013 | #146 | 40 | #3,000 |
| 2016 | 2,322 | #135 | 47 | #2,656 |
| 2015 | 2,660 | #122 | 50 | #2,522 |
| 2014 | 2,855 | #109 | 50 | #2,511 |
| 2013 | 3,177 | #98 | 51 | #2,454 |
| 2012 | 3,456 | #78 | 53 | #2,410 |
| 2011 | 3,974 | #65 | 66 | #2,051 |
| 2010 | 4,335 | #60 | 73 | #1,936 |
| 2009 | 5,061 | #48 | 59 | #2,249 |
| 2008 | 5,264 | #49 | 81 | #1,821 |
| 2007 | 6,032 | #37 | 66 | #2,089 |
| 2006 | 6,516 | #34 | 73 | #1,871 |
| 2005 | 7,376 | #30 | 76 | #1,751 |
| 2004 | 8,368 | #27 | 101 | #1,412 |
| 2003 | 8,911 | #25 | 77 | #1,643 |
| 2002 | 9,034 | #23 | 76 | #1,606 |
| 2001 | 9,639 | #23 | 109 | #1,229 |
| 2000 | 10,243 | #23 | 126 | #1,120 |
| 1995 | 7,360 | #43 | 103 | #1,131 |
| 1990 | 2,028 | #150 | 76 | #1,276 |
| 1985 | 440 | #479 | 35 | #1,757 |
| 1980 | 130 | #1,086 | 27 | #2,047 |
| 1975 | 93 | #1,239 | 28 | #1,780 |
| 1970 | 103 | #1,139 | 58 | #1,078 |
| 1965 | 167 | #768 | 50 | #1,053 |
| 1960 | 128 | #944 | 51 | #1,097 |
| 1955 | 134 | #841 | 48 | #1,090 |
| 1950 | 202 | #595 | 78 | #777 |
| 1945 | 132 | #639 | 88 | #648 |
| 1940 | 85 | #761 | 68 | #748 |
| 1935 | 94 | #690 | 79 | #677 |
| 1930 | 29 | #1,456 | 82 | #691 |
| 1925 | 25 | #1,742 | 129 | #542 |
| 1920 | 30 | #1,505 | 177 | #456 |
| 1915 | 27 | #1,400 | 172 | #413 |
| 1910 | 15 | #1,204 | 42 | #420 |
| 1905 | 21 | #822 | 28 | #409 |
| 1900 | — | — | 13 | #729 |
| 1895 | — | — | 24 | #397 |
| 1890 | 6 | #1,323 | 11 | #626 |
| 1885 | — | — | 25 | #354 |
| 1880 | — | — | 12 | #560 |
Famous people named Sydney
- Sydney Pollack Film director · 1934–2008
- Sydney Chaplin Actor · 1926–2009
- Sydney Brenner Biologist · 1927–2019
- Sydney Chaplin Actor · 1885–1965
- Sydney Chapman Mathematician · 1888–1970
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Sydney in 2025?
Sydney ranked #348 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 873 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Sydney?
187,700 babies have been named Sydney in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Sydney most popular?
Sydney peaked in 2000, when 10,369 newborns received the name.
Is Sydney a boy or girl name?
Sydney is used for both: about 95% of babies named Sydney have been girls and 5% boys.
Is the name Sydney rising or falling?
Sydney is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Sydney?
Well-known people named Sydney include Sydney Pollack (film director), Sydney Chaplin (actor), Sydney Brenner (biologist).