UK boy's name
Sy
Popular nickname for Sidney, a masculine name meaning "wide meadow".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sy is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3589, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 4 births.
This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2007 to 2007. 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.
Sy is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Sy. 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 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sy ranked #3589 for boys in England and Wales in 2007, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 4 boys were registered as Sy.
- • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3589
2007
Births in 2007
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
4 births
Estimated living
4
2026
Meaning
What does Sy mean?
The given name Sy has its origins in the French language, derived from the Latin name Silvius. Silvius is believed to have been a common Roman praenomen (personal name) during the ancient Roman era. The name is thought to be derived from the Latin word "silva," meaning "forest" or "woodland."
In ancient Roman mythology, Silvius was a legendary king of Alba Longa, the son of Aeneas and Lavinia. He is mentioned in Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid, as well as in the writings of the ancient Roman historian Livy. The name Silvius was also borne by several early kings of Rome, according to traditional accounts.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Sy can be traced back to the Middle Ages in France. One notable bearer of the name was Sy de Valnion, a 13th-century French nobleman and crusader who participated in the Eighth Crusade to the Holy Land in 1270.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the first name Sy. One such person was Sy Oliver (1910-1988), an American jazz arranger, composer, and bandleader known for his work with notable artists such as Jimmie Lunceford, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.
Another notable Sy was Sy Bartlett (1888-1962), an American actor and vaudeville performer who appeared in several films during the early 20th century, including "The Jazz Singer" (1927) and "The Public Enemy" (1931).
Sy Wexler (1923-2005) was an American film producer and director, best known for his work on the acclaimed film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975), which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Sy Scholfield (1905-1975) was a Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1920s and 1930s, winning the Stanley Cup in 1932.
Sy Friedman (1931-2021) was an American baseball executive who served as the general manager of the New York Mets from 1973 to 1977, overseeing the team's first National League pennant in 1973.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the first name Sy, showcasing its enduring presence across various cultures and fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Sy by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3589 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sy
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Sy: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sy in the UK right now?
In 2007, Sy was ranked #3589 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Sy most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 4 babies registered as Sy in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sy?
Popular nickname for Sidney, a masculine name meaning "wide meadow".
How many people are called Sy in the UK?
A total of 4 babies have been registered as Sy across the 1 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.