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Sullivan

♀ Girl

Pronounced SUHL-ih-vuhn /ˈsʌl.ɪ.vən/Medium

Meaning: EyeMedium

In 30 seconds: Sullivan comes from an Irish surname tied to the meaning 'eye' (or 'dark-eyed'). Used for a girl, it brings a strong, surname-style sound.
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Origin MediumEnglish, French
MeaningEye
U.S. rank (2024)#1948 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births102 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,368

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419932024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

The name traces to the Gaelic byname behind O'Sullivan, where the root is read as 'eye', often interpreted as one-eyed or dark-eyed. Long a common Irish family name, it has crossed into first-name use for both boys and girls. The meaning stays tied to that old descriptive root.

The three steady syllables and the -van ending give it a confident, modern feel as a girls' name. It still appears on men, such as the actor Sullivan Stapleton, so the form reads as friendly to either gender.

Did you know? Sullivan likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Sullivan — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Sullivan Stapleton (1977–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Sullivan…

Sullivan— the masculine use of the very same Irish surname and 'eye' meaning
Donovan— another Irish surname turned given name with a matching -van sound
Sloane— an Irish-rooted surname now used for girls, like Sullivan
Quinn— a unisex Irish surname-name with the same crossover feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Sullivan mean?

Sullivan is usually explained as meaning 'eye' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Sullivan?

It's commonly said SUHL-ih-vuhn /ˈsʌl.ɪ.vən/.

Is Sullivan a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Sullivan is used as a girl name.

How popular is Sullivan?

In 2024, Sullivan ranked #1948 in the U.S. for girls, with 102 births recorded.