Sullivan

Irish surname

"black-eyed one"

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.

Sullivan Rank in US Top 1000

# 339 in the US

Sullivan Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 203 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Sullivan

• 339 US 2024
• 203 Nameberry 2025
• 250 Future 2028
• 341 England 2023

20 Names Similar to Sullivan

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

• Fletcher
• Heath
• Thatcher
• Finnegan
• Shepherd
• Cal
• Edison
• Harris
• Finnigan
• Warren
• Murphy
• Dashiell
• Ellis
• Wells
• Clark
• Callahan
• Winston
• Mack
• Warner
• Rhodes

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"