Sullivan
Sullivan is a boy's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Dark-eyed, black-eyed, or hawk-eyed.
Origin and history
Sullivan is an Irish surname derived from 'Ó Súilleabháin', traditional meaning 'black-eyed' or 'hawk-eyed'. Long used primarily as a family name, it has gained steady popularity as a given name for boys in the United States. Its recent rise aligns with the trend of using traditional Celtic surnames as first names.
Popularity in the United States
15,635 babies in the United States have been named Sullivan since 1880. It ranks #949 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #348.
States where it is most popular
- MN (6.2 %)
- OH (6.1 %)
- CA (5.2 %)
- MI (5.1 %)
- WI (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 30 |
| 1890-1900 | 63 |
| 1900-1910 | 10 |
| 1910-1920 | 122 |
| 1920-1930 | 141 |
| 1930-1940 | 110 |
| 1940-1950 | 114 |
| 1950-1960 | 129 |
| 1960-1970 | 85 |
| 1970-1980 | 86 |
| 1980-1990 | 83 |
| 1990-2000 | 535 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,135 |
| 2010-2019 | 6,428 |
| 2020-2029 | 5,564 |
Famous people named Sullivan
- Sullivan Ballou: Lawyer, Politician
- Sullivan Stapleton: Actor
Nicknames
Sully, Sull
Fun facts
- It derives from the Irish Gaelic clan name Ó Súilleabháin, historically prominent in Munster.
- While used historically, Sullivan has seen a notable surge in U.S. usage since the 2000s.