The name of the district was derived from the Arab word "Syed" or "Sheikh" (pronounced as such in Pattani Malay as "Sik" and "Saik"), after the Arab missionaries who spread Islam into the region.

[3] Arab preachers arrived by boat at Lubuk Tok Keramat, Sungai Chepir and set up camp at a field known as Padang Tok Sheikh.

This location later developed into a settlement and first "Pondok" in Sik district.

Sik is famous for the Muda River, which is the longest river in Kedah and the Beris Dam, which is a water supply dam completed in 2004 at a cost of RM360 million.

The Sik Recreational Forest Park is located at Kampung Charuk Kit.