Sydney

Meaning

Sydney comes from an English place name and surname, ultimately tied to the old place-name element seen in the excerpt as being associated with Sir Philip Sidney and his family. The excerpts show it later becoming a common English boy’s name, while in Ireland it was also used for girls in honor of the lord deputy. As with many surname-given names, its name-history is more about family and place association than a single plain literal meaning.

Origin

Fun fact

The excerpts note that Sydney became a common English boy’s name through Sir Philip Sidney’s line, but in Ireland it was also used as a girl’s name.