Originating from England, the name Sydney is of Norman French descent and means 'wide meadow'. It gained prominence in the 19th century when it became popular as a feminine given name. However, its use as a masculine name is not uncommon either. The name has been associated with notable figures like Australian city-founder Captain Arthur Phillip, and British poet Sidney Sonnet.
The name Sydney experienced a steady increase in popularity between 1993 and 2004, with a total of 24 babies named Sydney being born during this period.