Sully

♂ Boy

Pronounced SUH-lee /ˈsʌ.li/High

Meaning: Pet form of Sullivan — Irish Ó Súileabháin, 'dark/hawk eyes' — also an English place-name, 'south meadow'Medium

In 30 seconds: Friendly and heroic at once: Sully is the warm short form of Sullivan — 'dark-eyed' in Irish — and a hero's nickname (pilot Sully Sullenberger). Easygoing, brave, and likeable.

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Origin MediumIrish, English

MeaningPet form of Sullivan — Irish Ó Súileabháin, 'dark/hawk eyes' — also an English place-name, 'south meadow'

U.S. rank (2025)#3371 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births35 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2011

Total births (all-time)≈ 680

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Sully is a pet form of Sullivan — from Irish Ó Súileabháin, 'descendant of the dark-eyed (or hawk-eyed) one' — and also an English place-name, 'south meadow'. Warm and friendly, it gained heroic shine from pilot Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger.

It registers thinly as a nickname-name. Rare, dark-eyed at the Irish root, and likeable.

Did you know? Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger landed a crippled airliner on the Hudson River, saving all 155 aboard — the 'Miracle on the Hudson' — making this friendly nickname a byword for cool-headed courage.

Overall data confidence 75%

Behind the Name — Sullivan — root etymology

Variations

SullivanSulley

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger (1951-)
American pilot who landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River
★Sully Erna (1968-)
American musician and lead singer of the band Godsmack

If you like Sully…

Sullivan— the full name behind it

Finn— a fellow friendly Irish name

Murphy— a companion Irish surname-name

Callum— another warm Celtic favorite

Explore names like Sully

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sully mean?

Sully is a pet form of Sullivan, Irish for 'dark/hawk eyes', also an English 'south meadow'.

How do you pronounce Sully?

It's said SUH-lee /ˈsʌ.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sully a boy or girl name?

Sully is mainly a boy's name.

How popular is Sully?

Sully is a rare name in the U.S.