Nicholas vs Sidney
Nicholas and Sidneycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Nicholas was ranked #154 and Sidney #779 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #191 and Sidney #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #211 and Sidney #220 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #305 and Sidney #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Nicholas and Sidney over time
Nicholas and Sidney appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Sidney in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Nicholas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Sidney in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nicholas held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Sidney in 1.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #52 in 1996, Sidney #168 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicholas #211, Sidney #220.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Nicholas | Sidney |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #220 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Sidney does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicholas has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sidney.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Sidney doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Sidney
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #290 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #168 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1128 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls