Sullivan
Meaning: not confirmed (origin debated)
About the name Sullivan
The origin of Sullivan is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Irish roots, with the meaning “Dark-eyed”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Sullivan we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a modern feel. In 2025, Sullivan ranked #314 for boys in the US, with 1,083 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2025. Since 2000, 91% of US babies named Sullivan were boys.
- US rank 2025
- #314
- In 2015
- #455
- Babies in 2025
- 1,083
Popularity of Sullivan, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for Sullivan
- Sully
Names similar to Sullivan
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.