Baby Name Popularity Profile

Sullivan

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Sullivan.

✦ Dark-eyed 🌍 Irish traditional
National Rank (2025) #314
All-Time Peak Rank #314 Achieved 2025
Total U.S. Births 15,635 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 91.4% Boy / 8.6% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1884 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 1,083 births in 2025
💡 The Sullivan Vibe: Considered a Rising Star. A high-velocity modern choice demonstrating rapid, sustained growth in recent registries.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Dark-eyed
Language Origin Irish
Origin Type single
Derived from the Irish surname Ó Súilleabháin, meaning 'descendant of Súilleabhán'. Súilleabhán is thought to mean 'dark-eyed' or 'hawk-eyed'.
Common Nicknames
Sully
Pronunciation: SUL-li-van
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Sullivan

According to SSA data, Sullivan achieved its highest historical rank of #314 in 2025. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2025 with 1,083 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 62.4%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 44 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Sullivan across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +62.4% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 1,083 births in 2025
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 13 yrs
Registry Streak 44 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 30
1890s: 63
1900s: 10
1910s: 122
1920s: 141
1930s: 110
1940s: 114
1950s: 129
1960s: 85
1970s: 86
1980s: 83
1990s: 535
2000s: 2,135
2010s: 6,428
2020s: 5,564

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Sul-li-van
Letter Count 8 letters
Spelling Complexity Complex
Length Percentile Longer than 79% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 79.0% of SSA names. Starts with S, a letter used by only 7.9% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Sullivan.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Minnesota
Top States Minnesota, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maine, Colorado
States with Data 46
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Minnesota #77 822 2025 +50.0% Growth
South Carolina #113 633 2021 +4.4% Growth
Wisconsin #128 654 2024 +71.4% Growth
Maine #100 138 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #418 363 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #161 375 2018 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #124 89 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #299 399 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont #45 40 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #209 200 2025 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #274 628 2022 +21.6% Growth
Kansas #194 218 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #426 144 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #246 447 2024 +6.2% Growth
Michigan #172 679 2025 +47.5% Growth
Tennessee #268 379 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #218 805 2022 +38.6% Growth
Idaho Unranked 67 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #224 384 2025 +53.8% Growth
Utah #375 131 2021 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #149 51 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #329 216 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #169 43 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #236 311 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #425 354 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #276 614 2024 +7.5% Growth
Oklahoma #610 150 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #773 134 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #540 354 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #398 483 2024 6.7% Decline
Louisiana #398 171 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #352 98 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #263 154 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #532 620 2025 +100.0% Growth
New Hampshire Unranked 24 2022 Insufficient historical volume
New York #423 584 2016 +41.4% Growth
Massachusetts #332 185 2023 Insufficient historical volume
California #656 686 2016 +48.3% Growth
Alabama #614 126 2024 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #647 151 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #591 18 2011 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 7 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #360 55 2024 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 42 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 32 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii #252 5 2025 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
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👧 Sister Suggestions
Madisson Kailani Ophelia Julieta Francesca Lorelai Matilda Kaliyah Elaina Azalea

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