Image by J.E.S. via Flickr
There’s something tremendously upbeat about this Irish surname.
Thanks to Kelly for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Sullivan.
Sullivan is instantly recognizable as an Irish surname. There’s general consensus that the name translates to something like “little dark eyed one.”
But if you have any familiarity with musical theater, chances Sullivan brings to mind The Pirates of Penzance or The Mikado or any of the tremendously popular Gilbert & Sullivan operettas from the Victorian era. W.S. Gilbert wrote the lyrics; Arthur Sullivan, the music. The rest is history.
The surname appeared in the US Top 1000 a few times in the nineteenth century, but Sullivan’s real climb is recent – and fueled, at least in part, by a blue, furry monster.
Pixar‘s Monsters, Inc. was the studio’s fourth feature film, released in 2001. Mike Wazowski – a one-eyed green ball with legs – and James P. Sullivan, called Sulley, report to work every day at Monstropolis’ power plant. They sneak into kids’ bedrooms, scare them, and bottle the screams to power the city. Things go whopper-jawed when a child they call Boo sneaks into Monstropolis, and discovers that Sulley is a loveable goofball, not a scary beast.
Sure enough, Sullivan entered the US Boys’ Top 1000 in 2002. He’d climbed to #651 by 2009.
It’s not just the friendly monster raising Sullivan’s profile:
- In 2007, Patrick Dempsey welcomed twin sons Darby Galen and Sullivan Patrick. He’d already shown a preference for Irish appellations when he and wife Jillian welcomed daughter Talula Fyfe in 2002;
- Sullivan fits with the tide of popular Irish names, from Ryan to Riley, but his three-syllable pattern is more akin to newcomers like Donovan;
- Fictional characters have worn the surname, like Third Watch’s John Sullivan – known as Sully – and Clark Kent‘s BFF on Smallville, Chloe Sullivan;
- The three kids on Everybody Loves Raymond were played by real life siblings: big sister Madylin, and twin brothers Sawyer and Sullivan – though on the show, they were the more ordinary Alexandra, Geoffrey, and Michael.
Nickname Sully has a few advantages. He’s a great choice for parents who fret that their boy Bailey will be mistaken for a girl. Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger earned his place in history when he successfully landed a disabled aircraft – a commercial flight with over 150 passengers on board – in New York’s Hudson River in 2009. It lends the name a vaguely heroic vibe. So does the fictional hero of Avatar, wounded Marine Jake Sully.
Sully is also a common place name in France, and there was a prominent duc de Sully. If you’re looking at a map, there’s also Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina, the site of the former Fort Moultrie. Edgar Allen Poe was stationed there, and it inspired his writing. Pat Conroy also set a novel there.
It all makes for a friendly name, one that is thoroughly Irish, quite current, and wearable for a child or a grown-up. While Sullivan is stylish, he’s not yet so common that you’d expect to hear him everywhere. It’s an appealing combination for parents distraught to realize that Aidan has long since ceased to sound original.
Andrea says
October 16, 2015 at 9:52 AMI have a Sullivan or Sully that was born in 2007. We’ve never met another Sullivan personally but I had a co-worker who “stole” the name a year after he was born. I wasn’t sure if I should be annoyed or flattered. Everybody loves his and his sister’s names (Lanora). I’ve seen it come up in pop culture lately, Sully was excited when he found out that the starring character in Avatar is a Sully. We sorta were inspired by Godsmack’s lead singer’s name, Sully Urna, but made it Sullivan although Sully fits his mischievous personality quite well. I’m still proud of his name and secretly hope it doesn’t become too popular.
Andrea says
October 16, 2015 at 9:59 AMI do have to say that although Sully does not have dark eyes (they are hazel), he is almost half Irish (great great grandparents are from Ireland, which is fairly recent) and has light auburn hair and some freckles, so the name is quite fitting due to his heritage. 😉
Australia says
April 8, 2015 at 10:40 PMI have a Sullivan whom we call Sulli or Sul depending on the mood! Was convinced with my genes I was having a dark eyed child! How wrong can one be – bright blue, blonde haired. He loves the fact that he’s only ever come across 1 other child with the same name so far.
B says
March 20, 2015 at 10:14 AMI know this is a super old thread but we have a Sullivan “Sully” which we love but are having a hard time coming up with sibling names… we like classic sounding names that are less popular, tend to gravitate to surnames, and like more gender neutral names. Some that we have considered are Monroe (b/g), Elliot (g), and Theodore (b). Any suggestions?
appellationmountain says
March 20, 2015 at 3:35 PMLet me ask on Facebook/Twitter, B!
Thomo says
May 15, 2015 at 10:13 AMHi there!
We’ve just had our third and named him Sullivan. I’ve been less sure about the name than my wife was, so I guess I’ve been scanning forums for reassurance.
We’ve always had the same approach to baby names: Classic strong names that are less popular. We named our first boy Spencer, and our girl Adelaide. I do love the names, and I feel that Sullivan really fits well with them others!
Just thought I’d let you know.
Best of luck
appellationmountain says
May 15, 2015 at 10:29 AMCongrats on your new son, Thomo – what a great trio of names!
Kristy says
October 27, 2014 at 9:43 PMWe are expecting a little girl and considering Sullivan as a first name… what are other people’s thoughts? I believe that it was originally a girls name but grew in popularity as a boys name. I would appreciate feedback if you are game?!
appellationmountain says
October 28, 2014 at 8:59 AMI think Sullivan works well for a daughter – in our age of Madison, Avery, Harper, and Harlow, any surname is fair game for a girl.
By numbers alone, Sullivan has always been more popular for boys. That’s true of most surnames. There are long traditions of passing down family surnames to sons and daughters, but the tradition is a little stronger for sons. (Though plenty of families, especially in the South, take a more equal opportunity approach.)
So you’ll definitely get some negative/curious reactions from others who expect Sullivan to be a boy – or who feel that you’ve given your daughter an inappropriately boyish name. But generations of women have grown up as Shirley and Kimberly and Taylor and lived to tell, so I wouldn’t worry about that too much. (Unless, of course, you know that it’s the kind of thing that will bother you.)
steph says
October 28, 2014 at 9:21 AMWe actually picked Sullivan as a boy or girl, so that we weren’t calling our baby “it” during the pregnancy. Middle name would’ve been Ruth for a girl and a family name – Anderson – for a boy. I kinda liked and wish we had gone with Aloysius though 🙂
steph says
November 9, 2013 at 9:15 AMI just stumbled upon this…I am the mama of a Sullivan. Yes, I am from Charleston and considered Cooper. My dog’s name is Jasper, too! I gave him the name before I discovered he was a “he” but I think it does suit boys a bit better. What I did find interesting about reading this is that my boy has piercing blue eyes.
One last thing, as curmudgeonly man once said, the name is “different without being weird.”
Chelle says
August 31, 2013 at 10:10 PMMy son who is now 15, is named Sullivan. He goes by Sull. It suits him well.
Christina says
August 5, 2013 at 8:11 AMMy son is Sullivan Andrew. I love the name. We aren’t Irish and Sullivan doesn’t have dark eyes, but who really cares about the meaning.
melissa says
February 24, 2013 at 10:26 AMWe just had our 4th child and named him Sullivan. I call him Van, when I can’t seem to get three syllables out, but others (like my mom) call him Sully. My husband is an attorney and uses the term “sullying” fairly often with a negative connotation in court, but says Van doesn’t come naturally for him either, so we are trying to find alternative nickname. (I’m hoping he will just grow into Van… cause I think it is adorable! ). Sullivan is my Grandmother’s mothers maiden name, I am named after her and my grandmother passed away while I was pregnant so the name is high in sentimental value:)
Amy says
February 10, 2012 at 1:32 AMI just recently named my son Sullivan Cole.. I’ve had mixed reactions, but for the most part it’s been very positive. We call him Sully all the time.. I think Sullivan is a truly cool name. 🙂
katybug says
September 14, 2011 at 9:14 PMSullivan has recently popped on my radar and I’m liking it more and more. You may remember me as the searcher for the perfect boy’s name with a v in the middle to honor my husband Trevor and FIL Ivan. I’m finally pregnant, with a boy, and Sullivan and Evan are serious contenders. I even found an ancestor named Sullivan (gr-gr-gr-grandmother’s maiden name), so if pressed I can claim it’s a family name. Win-win.
Dave says
August 3, 2011 at 11:19 AMWe love the name Sullivan and we just thought of it last weekend. I come from an Irish family and our favorite spot to hang out as a family is Sullivans Island,
SC…which is where we were when it hit us. Literally hours later we heard a mother call for her son… “Sully…” My wife and I looked at each other like it was fate.
We moved away from Charleston a few years ago and miss it dearly. We asked the woman where she came up with the name and she said she her family
moved from Charleston years ago and named all of thier kids after Charleston in some form (Cooper, Ashley, Charles and Sullivan). We think we will use it
for a girl or a boy (we arent finding out). Sullivan David (Sully) or Sullivan Ann (Sully or Sully Ann) as nicknames.
April says
January 4, 2011 at 9:23 PMI love Sullivan. I am having my gender determining ultrasound tomorrow. If this baby is a boy, his name will be Sullivan. I took this post as a good omen.
appellationmountain says
January 4, 2011 at 9:41 PMWow, April – congratulations! How VERY exciting.
Heather Elaine says
January 4, 2011 at 1:40 PMI really like Sully and Sullivan, or Van as a nickname would be fine too (I didn’t mind it on Reba). Sullivan definitely sounds Irish, and since I have a lot of Irish background that alone adds a giant appeal. I like other Irish names, especially Aoife, Caoimhe, and Seamus, but I’m extremely hesitant to use something most of the people I know won’t be able to spell. I also don’t intend to change the spellings to fit the pronunciation – that just doesn’t work for me.
Sullivan, however, is familiar, not overused, is definitely masculine, has a nice meaning, and is quite easy to spell. I think I’d call that a win in my book. I think the only drawback that keeps it from being a favorite on my list is the meaning of Sully: to make soiled or tarnished, defile. Not such a good meaning. :'( Other than that, I have no objections and would happily use it for a child.
Oh, and I love Monsters Inc., it’s probably one of my favorite Pixar movies. 🙂
Sparkle says
January 4, 2011 at 4:46 PMOne of my friends is named Caoimhe. She loves it but she hates spelling it! By the way does anyone find it weird that Sully has blue eyes?!?! LOL
Heather Elaine says
January 4, 2011 at 11:44 PMLol, that is funny! Caoimhe is a gorgeous name, it’s really too bad that I’m so conservative about spelling.
Lola says
January 4, 2011 at 10:17 AMI like Sully more than Sullivan but like that both skew very masculine. I may be dating myself here, but wasn’t there a Sully on “Dr. Quiinn, Medicine Woman” back in the day? I seem to think “Mike & Sully” meant something there too. *Shrug* too lazy to go check.
But I do like Sully, he’s a bit dashing and a little pugnacious feeling. I like that too. Sullivan doesn’t work for me, personally (Sounds like a construction firm when paired with my surname). But I would love to meet one (or more)!
Claire says
January 3, 2011 at 4:49 PMI like Sullivan. But Sully always reminds me of Biff and Sully, the garbagemen who carried Oscar around in his can on Sesame Street.
appellationmountain says
January 4, 2011 at 8:13 PMHa! I’d completely forgotten that. But the meaning of Sully is a strike against it, I suppose …
Lulu Bee says
January 3, 2011 at 3:34 PMSullivan is one of my husband’s favorite names ever. I don’t really care for it much at all. I like it fine for someone else’s kid, but it just gets under my skin because my husband constantly suggests it.
appellationmountain says
January 4, 2011 at 8:13 PMBut it must be nice to have him HAVE a favorite name. I’m jealous! 🙂
Emmy Jo says
January 3, 2011 at 3:17 PMSullivan is nice enough. It’s one I’ve never been very excited about, but as a brown-eyed girl myself, I love that it means “little dark-eyed one.”
Lady Gwyn says
January 3, 2011 at 2:07 PMI do kind of like this one, but there are other Irish names I like better (Eamon, Seamus, Conall, Dermot). I think Van might be a usable nickname, too, if Sully doesn’t trip your trigger.
appellationmountain says
January 4, 2011 at 8:12 PMI do like Van as a nickname. Great suggestion!