Sullivan

Sullivan - A very unique male name

Sullivan appeared on the charts for the first time in 1919 on position #1415. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Sullivan and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Sullivan? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Sullivan. The baby boy name Sullivan was given to 1,063 baby boys in 2025, ranking #313 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,379 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Sullivan peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 313.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Sullivan, 1-5?

Sullivan is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Sullivan is currently topping the baby name charts in Vermont at position #45 - and is the least popular in Arizona at position #773.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Sullivan is where you live.

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Sullivan origin and meaning

Irish — transferred surname

Uncertain in its exact gloss — from Ó Súilleabháin, 'descendant of Súilleabhán'; the personal name is built on súil, 'eye,' with elements read as 'black' or 'hawk' — 'one-eyed,' 'black-eyed' and 'hawk-eyed' are all argued

Sullivan is one of Ireland's great surnames, from a personal name about eyes whose precise meaning scholars still dispute. As an American first name it has flickered since 1919 and only taken off in the surname-name era, reaching a peak at #313 in 2025. Monsters, Inc.'s James P. Sullivan — Sulley — gave it a friendly modern face for children.

Origin uncertain

Sullivan is a 8 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Sullivan, pop culture references for the name Sullivan and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Sullivan

We've found the following names that sound similar to Sullivan, sorted by popularity.

Sylvan / Selvin / Silvano / Silvino / Silviano /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Sullivan

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Sullivan a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Sullivan?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

SUL-ih-vun · /ˈsʌlɪvən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Sullavan — Old surname spelling (actress Margaret Sullavan), rare as a given name

Nicknames: SullyVan

Famous bearers

• Sullivan Stapleton — Australian actor known for Strike Back and 300: Rise of an Empire (b. 1977) Contemporary

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Sullivan is a hearty Irish surname name with the genial Sully built in, at its most popular in 2025.

Worth knowing

• Most people meet it as a surname first, and Sully — also a verb meaning to soil — may not be the short form every family wants.