What Does the Name Sullivan Mean?
Sullivan is a boy's name of Irish Gaelic origin meaning “dark-eyed; little dark one.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Sullivan |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Irish Gaelic |
| Meaning | dark-eyed; little dark one |
| Variants | Súilleabháin, Sully, O'Sullivan |
| Popularity | Used as a boys' given name in the United States and France; a very common surname in Ireland. |
The meaning and origin of Sullivan
The name Sullivan means “dark-eyed; little dark one” and has Irish Gaelic origins. From the Irish surname 'Ó Súilleabháin', from 'súil' (eye) plus a second element interpreted as 'dark' or 'one-eyed', meaning roughly 'dark-eyed one'. A prominent Irish clan name now used as a given name.
Variants and related names
Sullivan is related to several other names you may recognize: Súilleabháin, Sully, O'Sullivan. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Sullivan?
Used as a boys' given name in the United States and France; a very common surname in Ireland.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Sullivan below.
Generate a fake Sullivan profile
Need a complete fictional identity using the name Sullivan? Generate a full profile — address, phone, email and more — for testing and privacy.
Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sullivan mean?+
The name Sullivan means “dark-eyed; little dark one” and is of Irish Gaelic origin.
What is the origin of the name Sullivan?+
Sullivan originates from Irish Gaelic.
Is Sullivan a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Sullivan has trended in the US over time.
Sullivan by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press