Etymology and OriginsSydne is a feminine variant of Sydney, which itself derives from the English surname Sidney. The surname Sidney is believed to originate from a place name in Normandy or from Old English elements meaning 'wide meadow' or 'well-watered land.' As a given name, Sidney was first used in honor of the executed politician Algernon Sidney (1622–1683) and the poet-statesman Philip Sidney (1554–1586). Over time, the Sydney spelling became particularly associated with the Australian city named after Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, in 1788.Gender and PopularityTraditionally, Sidney was more common for boys, but in the United States, the variant Sydney surged in popularity for girls from the 1980s onward. As a result, Sidney itself was used more for girls than boys between 1993 and 2019. Sydne, with its unique spelling, represents a less common but established variant, sharing the same feminine association.Related FormsOther spelling variants include Cydney, Sydnee, and Sydnie. A common diminutive is Syd, used informally.Meaning: From the surname Sidney, possibly 'wide meadow' or 'well-watered land'Origin: EnglishType: Feminine variant of SydneyUsage Regions: English-speaking countries