What Does the Name Sydney Mean in the Bible?

With a little research, I have discovered that Sydney is a great name with a dense meaning. Furthermore, the name spans back centuries and can reveal spiritual truth to us in accompaniment with the Bible. Sydney in the Bible shows us God’s provision, and reveals to us His great love.

The name Sydney comes from Normandy and Old English. It also is an important part of the Biblical narrative, as it’s meaning is mentioned throughout a few verses. The verses that Sydney’s meaning are in demonstrate that God is a loving provider who cares about his people.

Origin of the Name Sydney 

The origin of the name Sydney is not singular. There are multiple origins for the name, which gives it an even richer history. Just like how different cultures have different appreciations for the same types of food, the name Sydney had different means to the different people groups who developed it. 

Some say that Sydney was originally a place-name, coming from Normandy. In Norman culture, the name Sydney was a surname that referred to St. Denis in Normandy. Place-names are fairly common. They usually refer to a specific historical site that has cultural meaning to the people of the region. 

Not only did the name Sydney originate for Normandy, it is also believed that it was derived from the Old English language. The Old English words “sid” and “ieg” we allegedly combined to create the name Sydney. Although Sydney does have a specific meaning that “Sydney” name was commonly used as an English surname ages ago. 

The use of the surname was common centuries ago, even though through history it has evolved into a first name. 

Based on these two origins, we can develop a more precise meaning for the name Sydney. 

Meaning of the Name Sydney 

When analyzing the meaning of the name, we must look at both origins to create a full interpretation of the name. 

To the people of Normandy, Saint Denis was an important place. It is a religious township or commune where people live. Saint-Denis-Le-Gast (the commune’s full name) is a place of great spiritual observation. There is a historical church in Saint Denis that has been meeting for decades. 

Beyond the Normand origin, the Old English origin also gives brevity to the name definition. The two words that were combined to create the name Sydney are “sid” and “ieg.” “Sid” means extensive or wide, and ieg means large island in a river or riverside meadow. 

When combining these two words, the meaning of the name Sydney is revealed. “Of the wide meadow” would be the full name definition for the name Sydney. The Old English elements reveal a meaning that has true Biblical implications. 

Spiritual Meaning of the Name Sydney 

The name Sydney is not found in the Old Testament or the New Testament, but it’s name meaning is found in the Bible. There are many meadows mentioned throughout the Old Testament. 

Bible Verses about Meadows

Psalm 65:13

The meadows are clothed with flocks, the valleys also are covered with grain; they shout for joy and sing together.

Judges 11:33

And from Aroer to Minnith he smote them, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-cheramim [the meadow of vineyards], with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites.

Judges 20:33

And all the men of Israel rose out of their places and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel in ambush rushed out of their place in the meadow of Geba.

Isaiah 14:30

And the firstborn of the poor and the poorest of the poor [of Judah] shall feed on My meadows, and the needy will lie down in safety; but I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant shall be slain.

Isaiah 19:7

The meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile shall become dry, be blown away, and be no more.

Sydney as a Reminder of God’s Provision 

The meaning of Sydney’s name is a wide meadow, and based on the verses in God’s Word that mention meadows, Sydney should be a reminder of God’s provision. Doing a Bible study on the Word of God shows a great lesson about God’s generosity. 

When reading over these verses, a theme appears: God provides for His people. In the book of Psalm, the author describes how God provided flocks and grain to cover the meadows. Our life is like the meadow that God provides for. The flocks might move to and from our lives. Prosperity might eb and flow, but God is always in control. 

In the book of Judges, God provided victory for his people on the meadows and vineyards. Meadows are traditionally thought as places of peace, however these verses show battle taking place on the meadow. Eventually, God’s people were victorious. God provided victory for his people on the meadow. 

Isaiah describes God’s provision through the Lord Jesus Christ. The firstborn of Judah is Jesus, and He came to provide life to all. Jesus provided victory over sin. 

Currently, God provides us with the Holy Spirit to help us to live the right way. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit were provisions, given to us by God. 

Popularity of the Name Sydney 

Similarly to the name Payton, Sydney, has been around for a long time. It became widely popular for a few years, and has since become obscure again. 

Although is was originally a last name, it has become more commonly used as first name in recent years.  The following table shows it’s popularity thoughout American history. 

According to the Social Security Administration, the name Sydney was rather rare until the late 1980s, when the name took off. It skyrocketed in usage up to 8000 uses per million babies born. 

However since then, the name has become rare again; it’s fallen in popularity almost every year since 2000. Currently it is the #368 most commonly used name amongst baby girls.

This does not make it one of the too popular names that are overused. Many parents prefer for their children to have rare names that aren’t overused. 

Gender of the Name Sydney

Although names are not specifically used for any one gender, there is a common trend with the name Sydney. It is rarely used as a masculine name, and instead is more commonly used as a feminine name. 

Sydney might be used for either a boy or a girl, however, it is usually used for women.  It can be consider a unisex name, but it all comes down to preference. 

Although it is usually a girl’s name of French origin, it might also be used as a baby boy name.

Famous People with the Name Syndey

Here are some famous people and places with the name Sydney:

1. Sydney Pollack

2. Sydney Bristow

3. Sydney Carton

4. Sydney Graham 

5. Sydney Andrews

6. Sydney Opera House

Sydney as a Potential Baby Name

If you are considering using Sydney as a baby name, it is a great option.  It also might be a great selection for a middle name. Middle names are an important aspect to our personalities, so Sydney as a middle name might be perfect as well. 

Sydney is a great given name, especially if you are someone with English heritage. If you are looking for English names, Sydney might be one of the best to choose.