Sullivan

Irish surname

"black-eyed one"

Updated Mon Sep 02 2024

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Sullivan Origin and Meaning

The name Sullivan is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "black-eyed one".

Sullivan is a jaunty Celtic three-syllable name, with a real twinkle in its eye. It was immortalized in the 1930s classic film Sullivan's Travels and was chosen for one of Patrick Dempsey's twin boys. Nickname Sully is equally jaunty.

The third most common surname in Ireland, Sullivan's heritage dates back to the third century. Countless distinguished surnamed Sullivans include Sir Arthur, half of composing team Gilbert & Sullivan, Helen Keller's teacher Annie, Chicago architect Louis, early boxer John L. and dour columnist/TV emcee Ed.

Other celebs with boys named Sullivan: singer Tom Waits and actor James Marsters. Heroic pilot Chesley Sullenberger is known as Sully, and a featured character in Pixar's Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University was Sullivan.

# 358 in the US

Sullivan Rank in US Top 1000

# 202 on Nameberry

Sullivan Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Sullivan Popularity

358US2023
202Nameberry2024
250Future2028
414England2021

20 Names Similar to Sullivan

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Famous People Named Sullivan

Sullivan StapletonAustralian actor
Sullivan Skye SweetenAmerican actor; twin brother of the late Sawyer Storm Sweeten
Sullivan Waitsson of singer Tom Waits
Sullivan Marstersson of actor James Marsters
Sullivan Patrick Dempsey (b. 2007)son of actor Patrick Dempsey
Sullivan James Gable (b. 2012)son of singers Mark Gable and Melinda Schneider
Theodore Vigo Sullivan Gilliesson of actress Rachael Leigh Cook & Daniel Gillies

Sullivan in Pop Culture

James "Sully" Sullivancharacter in Pixar's "Monsters, Inc."
Vic Sullivanfrom the movie "Knucklehead"
Walter Sullivancharacter from the video game series "Silent Hill"