Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Sullivan
BoyIrish· “descendant of the dark-eyed one”
- Meaning
- descendant of the dark-eyed one
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- SUH-lih-vuhn
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #314
- US babies 2025
- 1,083
- Best rank
- #314 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Sullivan
Sullivan is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “descendant of the dark-eyed one”.
Sullivan is an Irish surname, from Ó Súileabháin, one of the most common family names in the southwest of Ireland. It is built on súil, eye, and the rest is often explained as dark-eyed, though some scholars read it as one-eyed or hawk-eyed, so the exact sense is not settled. The surname became famous through Arthur Sullivan of the comic-opera team Gilbert and Sullivan and through Anne Sullivan, the teacher of Helen Keller. As a first name it has a friendly, slightly literary feel. Sully is a warm nickname, and the name pairs easily with short, classic middle names.
Famous parents who chose Sullivan: Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita (2022). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Sullivan first appears in US Social Security records in 1884. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 34 different years, starting in 1884. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #314, and its highest count, 1,083 babies. Use has grown 62% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #2,216 in 1920, #2,425 in 1950, #4,456 in 1980, #1,465 in 2000, #650 in 2010, and #314 in 2025. Of the 15,635 US boys named Sullivan since records began, 41% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 5,564 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Leonel, Eliam, Mathias, Colson, and Banks.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sullivan ranked highest in Vermont, Minnesota, and Maine.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | #45 | 10 |
| Minnesota | #77 | 75 |
| Maine | #100 | 14 |
| South Carolina | #113 | 47 |
| South Dakota | #124 | 11 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 91% of US babies named Sullivan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Sullivan is usually pronounced SUH-lih-vuhn, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with S and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Sullivan
A few middle names that flow with Sullivan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sullivan
Similar names
Donovan Boy
DON-uh-vun
“dark brown” · Irish
#496
Finnegan Boy
FIH-nuh-guhn
“descendant of the fair one” · Irish
#526
Callahan Boy
KA-luh-han
“descendant of Ceallachán” · Irish
#227
Damian Boy
DAY-mee-uhn
“to tame” · Greek
#109
Aidan Boy
AY-dihn
“little fire” · Irish
#326
Declan Boy
DEHK-luhn
“uncertain; often said full of goodness” · Irish
#139
Keegan Boy
KEE-gun
“son of Aodhagán” · Irish
#621
Ronan Boy
ROH-nuhn
“little seal” · Irish
#247
Fabian Boy
FAY-bee-uhn
“from the Roman family name Fabius” · Latin
#468
Esteban Boy
ehs-TEH-bahn
“crown, garland” · Spanish
#461
Killian Boy
KIHL-ee-uhn
“possibly 'little church'” · Irish
#418
Kieran Boy
KEER-uhn
“little dark one” · Irish
#389
Lists that include Sullivan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sullivan mean?
Sullivan is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “descendant of the dark-eyed one”.
What is the origin of the name Sullivan?
Sullivan has Irish roots. Sullivan is an Irish surname, from Ó Súileabháin, one of the most common family names in the southwest of Ireland.
Is Sullivan a popular name?
Yes. Sullivan ranked #314 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Sullivan a boy or girl name?
Sullivan is mainly a boy's name. About 91% of US babies named Sullivan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Sullivan?
Sullivan is usually pronounced SUH-lih-vuhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings