UK girl's name
Cyd
A diminutive of Cydia, Cyd is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning "glory".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cyd is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Cyd popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2005 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Cyd. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cyd ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 3 girls were registered as Cyd.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cyd as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Cyd mean?
The name Cyd is derived from the Welsh language and has its roots in ancient Celtic culture. In Welsh, the name Cyd is a shortened form of the name Cedwyn, which means "blessed battle" or "blessed warrior." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon warriors or those born during times of conflict.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cyd can be found in the Mabinogion, a collection of ancient Welsh tales and mythology dating back to the 12th century. The name appears in the tale of "Culhwch and Olwen," where Cyd is mentioned as a warrior accompanying the protagonist on his quest.
Throughout history, the name Cyd has been associated with various notable figures. One of the earliest was Cyd ap Bleddyn (c. 1060-1115), a Welsh prince and military leader who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh and Norman invaders in the 11th century.
Another notable bearer of the name was Cyd Prydderch (c. 1470-1550), a Welsh poet and bard who lived during the Tudor period. His works were highly regarded and contributed to the preservation of Welsh language and culture during a time of English dominance.
In the 19th century, Cyd Lewis (1813-1892) was a Welsh minister and author who played a prominent role in the Methodist revival movement in Wales. His writings and sermons had a profound impact on the religious and cultural landscape of the time.
The name Cyd also appears in the literary world with Cyd Godebog (1851-1921), a Welsh novelist and short story writer known for her vivid depictions of rural Welsh life and her contributions to the Welsh literary Renaissance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
More recently, Cyd Hayman (1900-1976) was a Welsh artist and sculptor known for her works depicting Welsh culture, mythology, and landscape. Her sculptures can be found in various public spaces and galleries throughout Wales and beyond.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Cyd throughout history, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and enduring presence across various fields and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cyd over time
The chart below shows babies named Cyd registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cyd, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cyd by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cyd was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4798 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Cyd
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Cyd: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cyd in the UK right now?
In 2011, Cyd was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Cyd most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 3 babies registered as Cyd in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cyd?
A diminutive of Cydia, Cyd is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning "glory".
How many people are called Cyd in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Cyd across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.