Sullivan
Boy name · Celtic · Gaelic · Irish · Irish surname
Meaningdark-eyed · Irish
- US rank
- #314
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #314 in 2025
1,083 babies were named Sullivan in the US in 2025. It has climbed 84 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1993–2025
US births per million boys, 1884–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Sullivan you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Sullivan
Sullivan Stapleton
Australian actor (born 1977)
Choose Sullivan and your child shares a first name with Sullivan Stapleton, an Australian actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Sullivan, like who?” Sullivan Stapleton's Wikipedia article is available in 27 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Sullivan Stapleton on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,577 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Sullivan, 1,083 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Sullivan would very likely be the only one.
- HistorySullivan first shows up in US birth records in 1884, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 141 years since.
- Best yearSullivan is at its all-time high right now: #314 in 2025.
- Then vs nowSullivan is 15× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 23,095 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 1,577.
- TrendSullivan has climbed 84 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #314. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedSullivan is most popular in Vermont, where it ranks #37, followed by Minnesota (#75) and Maine (#91). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Irish, Sullivan means “dark-eyed”. Our records link it to Celtic, Gaelic and Irish roots.
About the name Sullivan
Sullivan is a boy name of Celtic, Gaelic and Irish origin meaning “dark-eyed”. It has 8 letters and 3 syllables, starting with S and ending in “-van”. US birth records list Sullivan for boys from 1884 to 2025, in 127 of those 142 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #314 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #314, with 1,083 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesGaelic namesIrish namesIrish surname names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.8 | 147,679 girls |
| 2000s | 13 | 75,075 girls |
| 2010s | 35 | 28,810 girls |
| 2020s | 52 | 19,231 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 44 | 22,822 boys |
| 1890s | 56 | 17,976 boys |
| 1900s | 6.7 | 150,376 boys |
| 1910s | 21 | 47,148 boys |
| 1920s | 13 | 78,247 boys |
| 1930s | 10 | 95,602 boys |
| 1940s | 7.6 | 132,275 boys |
| 1950s | 6.4 | 155,521 boys |
| 1960s | 4.5 | 224,719 boys |
| 1970s | 5.2 | 191,939 boys |
| 1980s | 4.5 | 223,214 boys |
| 1990s | 28 | 36,062 boys |
| 2000s | 106 | 9,396 boys |
| 2010s | 343 | 2,914 boys |
| 2020s | 537 | 1,862 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Sullivan
What does the name Sullivan mean?
Sullivan means “dark-eyed” in Irish.
What is the origin of the name Sullivan?
Sullivan has Celtic, Gaelic, Irish, Irish surname roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Sullivan a boy or girl name?
Sullivan is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Sullivan?
Sullivan ranked #314 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,083 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#314).