Sullivan

Irish surname

"black-eyed one"

Updated Thu Mar 20 2025

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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

# 195 on Nameberry

Sullivan Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Popularity of the name Sullivan

358US2023
195Nameberry2025
250Future2028
341England2023

20 Names Similar to Sullivan

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Sullivan.

Famous People Named Sullivan

Sullivan Stapleton
Australian actor
Sullivan Skye Sweeten
American actor; twin brother of the late Sawyer Storm Sweeten
Sullivan Waits
son of singer Tom Waits
Sullivan Marsters
son 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 Gillies
son of actress Rachael Leigh Cook & Daniel Gillies

The name Sullivan in Pop Culture

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