Sullivan
Top 1000
About Sullivan
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.
As of October 2026, Sullivan ranked #314 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #123.
Editor's take: The name Sullivan is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "black-eyed one".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #463 | 634 | 330.1 |
| 2015 | #455 | 667 | 348 |
| 2016 | #409 | 783 | 412.6 |
| 2017 | #401 | 797 | 430.6 |
| 2018 | #388 | 822 | 452.6 |
| 2019 | #401 | 778 | 433.6 |
| 2020 | #398 | 769 | 445.5 |
| 2021 | #372 | 876 | 500.7 |
| 2022 | #366 | 901 | 516 |
| 2023 | #358 | 918 | 536.7 |
| 2024 | #339 | 1,011 | 586.8 |
| 2025 | #314 | 1,083 | 634 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Sullivan.
Famous Sullivans
- 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
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"