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Sullivan
Fact sheet
- Name
- Sullivan
- Gender
- Boy name
- Syllables
- 3
The name Sullivan has its origin in the Irish surname O'Sullivan, which is the anglicized form of the old Irish name Ó Súilleabháin, meaning 'descendant of Súilleabháin'. The name Súilleabháin is composed of the Irish terms súil for 'eye' and dubh for 'black'.
What does the name Sullivan mean?
Sullivan is derived from the Irish surname O'Sullivan, which is the anglicized version of the historical name Ó Súilleabháin. The name is composed of the words súil, meaning 'eye', and dubh, meaning 'black'. This results in the translation 'the one with the black eye' or 'the dark-eyed one'. Sullivan is a common and widely used first name in the English-speaking world and is also frequently used as a surname. A popular variant, particularly found in France, is Sullyvan.
Where does the name Sullivan come from?
Sullivan is a male first name with Irish roots and means 'the one with the black eye' or 'the dark-eyed one'.
How do you pronounce Sullivan?
The pronunciation of Sullivan is three syllables and has a distinct internal structure. It is pronounced as 'Sul-li-van' [ˈsʌlɪvən] or, in a Germanized form, as [ˈzʊlɪvan], starting with a darker U sound. The double consonant '-ll-' gives the name a certain density, while the voiced V brings a movement into the second syllable. Sullivan sounds modern, confident, and is characterized by a lively, powerful character.
Popularity
Sullivan is among the sought-after first names in Germany, currently ranking 2,308th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2005, reaching 827th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 60 times as a first name, placing it 3,143rd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,935th.
Nicknames & pet names
Sulley / Sulli / Sully
Famous people
- James P. Sullivan (character from 'Monsters, Inc.')
- Jo Sullivan Loesser (American actress)
- Ronnie O'Sullivan (snooker player)
- Sullivan Fortner (American pianist)
- Sullivan Mazadou (footballer from Niger)
- Sullivan Silva (Brazilian football player)
- Sullivan Stapleton (actor from Australia)
- Sullivan Walker (American actor)
Frequently asked questions about the name Sullivan
Where does the name Sullivan come from?
Sullivan has Irish roots and is derived from the surname O'Sullivan, which is the anglicized form of the historical name Ó Súilleabháin.
What does the name Sullivan mean?
The name means 'the one with the black eye' or 'the dark-eyed one', derived from the Irish words súil for 'eye' and dubh for 'black'.
How popular is the first name Sullivan?
Sullivan is a common and widely used first name in the English-speaking world and is also frequently used as a surname.