How Many People Are Named Sullivan?

Complete statistics for the name Sullivan: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Sullivan
Uncommon
Irish surname used as a first name

Sullivan means 'dark soil' and is a rare name, with only 15,190 people bearing it today, making up just 1 in 21,724 Americans. It's a genuinely modern name, with 92% of those named Sullivan being under 30.

~212,701
Living in US
1 in 1,558
Americans
2024
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Dark soil
🌐
Origin
Irish surname used as a first name
🌟
Lucky Day
Friday
💎
Lucky Stone
Amethyst
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 11
Personality Traits
Strong Determined Confident
11
Life Path Number

People with the life path number 11 are often seen as highly intuitive and sensitive.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

15,535
Worldwide Bearers
#113,974
Global Rank
🇺🇸 United States
15,190
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England
32
🇧🇪 Belgium
27
🇨🇳 China
26
🇻🇪 Venezuela
25
🇲🇾 Malaysia
23
🇦🇺 Australia
21
🇹🇭 Thailand
21
🇳🇿 New Zealand
17
🇨🇲 Cameroon
16

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
13,832 (91%)
♀ Female
1,358 (9%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 15
14,599
Would be under 30 (92%)
542
Would be 30–60 (3%)
773
Would be over 60 (5%)

All 15,914 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 2024

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
26
Modern Appeal
94
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Sullivan Through the Generations

Sullivan has seen a resurgence in popularity, particularly among younger generations. With 14,599 individuals under 30, it's clear that the name is favored by parents looking for something fresh and distinctive. The peak year of 2024, with 1,113 births, underscores its status as a rising star in the world of baby names.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

South Carolina 775
Ohio 749
Minnesota 747
North Carolina 668
California 649
Michigan 619
Texas 614
Wisconsin 606
Pennsylvania 571
New York 548

✨ Similar Names to Sullivan

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Sullivan's Irish surname used as a first name roots

📄 About the Name Sullivan

How Many People Have the Name Sullivan?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 212,701 people in the United States currently share the name Sullivan. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,558 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.

Is Sullivan a Common or Rare Name?

Sullivan is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Sullivan Mean?

Sullivan means "dark soil" and comes from Irish surname used as a first name origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 11.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Sullivan in SSA data, approximately 91% are male and 9% are female.

When Was Sullivan Most Popular?

The name Sullivan reached peak popularity in 2024, with 1,113 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Sullivan?

Approximately 212,701 people named Sullivan live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 212,701. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,558 Americans.

Is Sullivan a rare name?

Sullivan is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,558 Americans has this name.

What does the name Sullivan mean?

Sullivan means "dark soil" and comes from Irish surname used as a first name origins.

Is Sullivan more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 91% of people named Sullivan are male and 9% are female.

When was Sullivan most popular?

Sullivan peaked in 2024 with 1,113 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US212,701
All-Time Births212,701
1 in X1 in 1,558
RarityUncommon
GenderMale
Avg Age15
Peak Year2024
World Rank#113,974
Male %91%
Female %9%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.