Given name & surname
Sheridan
“one who is wild and untamed; a searcher”·“a seeker”
Sheridan is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who is wild and untamed; a searcher” and “a seeker”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who is wild and untamed; a searcher” and “a seeker”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
How it developed
It entered given-name use through an existing surname.
The story
Its naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Sheridan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 8,372
- 2,768 boys · 5,604 girls
- Most popular year
- 2001
- 328 babies
- 2025
- 32
- #5,375 for girls · #9,579 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −4%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 22% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 24 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,375 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 12.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 305 in 2001. It also appeared in 8 birth records for boys in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,871 as a first name in 2020; 21,412 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Sheridan’s family of names
Sheridan has a related form in Sherrod. Sheridan has a related form in Sherida. Sheridan has a related form in Sherard.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 33
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Sherodvariant
- Sherrodvariant
- Sherrardvariant
- Sherardvariant
- Sheridenvariant
- Sherridanvariant
- Sheridonvariant
- Sheridynvariant
Show 25 moreShow fewer
- Sheridavariant
- Shererdvariant
- Sherrerdvariant
- Sheridunvariant
- Seireadanvariant
- Sheredanvariant
- Sherydanevariant
- Sherydanavariant
- Sherrydynvariant
- Sherrydonvariant
- Sherrydinvariant
- Sherrydanevariant
- Sherrydanavariant
- Sherrydanvariant
- Sherridonvariant
- Sherridannevariant
- Sherridanevariant
- Sherridanavariant
- Sheridinvariant
- Sheridianvariant
- Sherideenvariant
- Sheridanevariant
- Sherydanvariant
- Sheridannevariant
- Sheridannvariant
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Sheridan
- Sheridan Le FanuIrish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels (1814–1873)
- Sheridan SmithBritish actressborn 1981
- Sheridan DowneyAmerican politician (1884–1961)
- Sheridan MoraisSouth African motorcycle racerborn 1985
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Sheridan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Regan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
20% boys · 80% girls
Eavan
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Shaylee
“from the fairy palace; a fairy princess”
>99% girls
Shea
“of admirable character” · “from the fairy palace”
36% boys · 64% girls
Rhiannon
“the great and sacred queen”
>99% girls
Karman
“the lord of the manor”
35% boys · 65% girls
Cayla
“crowned with laurel” · “one who is slender”
>99% girls
Cailin
“a young woman; a lass”
>99% girls