Is Sullivan a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Sullivan is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Sullivan?

It’s currently ranked #319 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Sullivan?

SUL-ih-vən · IPA: /ˈsʌlɪvən/

Sullivan Unisex

Popularity: #319 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationSUL-ih-vən / ˈsʌlɪvən

Irish; Gaelic

Meaning

Irish: 'dark-eyed'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Sullivan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname 'O'Suileabhain'. It has been used as a given name since the 19th century. The name is associated with several notable figures in Irish history and culture. Sullivan has gained popularity in various English-speaking countries over the years.

Trend Summary

Sullivan has seen a steady increase in popularity in the United States over the past two decades.

Variants

Sully

International Variants

Sullivan (Irish)
Sullivan (English)

Famous people named Sullivan

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Fictional characters named Sullivan

Sullivan is a character in the animated film 'Monsters, Inc.' who works as a top scarer.

Sullivan is a character in the video game series 'The Last of Us', known for his role in the narrative.

Sibling Suggestions

Seamus Declan Finn Liam Aidan Connor

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Sullivan was first seen in the United States in 1884. Sullivan has ranked as high as #570 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Minnesota, Ohio, California, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In the past 5 years the name Sullivan has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Sullivan (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
OH	65	7%
WI	52	6%
PA	50	5%
IL	45	5%
NC	44	5%
MN	44	5%
MI	43	5%
SC	42	4%
NY	42	4%
TX	41	4%
IN	40	4%
GA	32	3%
TN	31	3%
IA	29	3%
VA	29	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1884	7
1886	5
1888	8
1889	10
1890	10
1891	8
1892	11
1893	5
1894	7
1896	6
1898	7
1899	9
1900	10
1910	6
1911	9
1912	11
1913	9
1914	12
1915	10
1916	13
1917	18
1918	18
1919	16
1920	15
1921	14
1922	17
1923	15
1924	15
1925	19
1926	12
1927	17
1928	7
1929	10
1930	9
1931	13
1932	15
1933	10
1934	13
1935	8
1936	16
1937	8
1938	7
1939	11
1940	8
1941	9
1943	8
1944	11
1945	16
1946	20
1947	11
1948	15
1949	16
1950	11
1951	15
1952	18
1953	12
1954	14
1955	15
1956	8
1957	17
1958	9
1959	10
1960	10
1961	6
1962	6
1963	9
1964	8
1965	15
1966	7
1967	7
1968	9
1969	8
1970	11
1971	9
1972	11
1973	6
1974	8
1975	10
1976	9
1977	8
1978	7
1979	7
1980	9
1981	10
1982	8
1983	11
1984	7
1985	5
1986	9
1988	10
1989	14
1990	26
1991	30
1992	34
1993	52
1994	32
1995	58
1996	67
1997	69
1998	86
1999	81
2000	85
2001	124
2002	159
2003	171
2004	177
2005	190
2006	203
2007	314
2008	332
2009	380
2010	371
2011	488
2012	548
2013	540
2014	634
2015	667
2016	783
2017	797
2018	822
2019	778
2020	769
2021	876
2022	901
2023	918
2024	1,011