Sully
English · Boy · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Sully
The given name 'Sully' is a diminutive of the Irish surname Ó Súilleabháin, meaning "descendant of Súilleabhán," which itself derives from the Gaelic elements *súil* ("eye") and *leabhar* ("book" or "learned"), thus connoting "one-eyed" or "hawk-eyed." It is primarily used in English-speaking cultures, particularly Irish and American, with no specific religious association, though it gained modern notoriety through the historical figure Daniel "Sully" Sullivan, a 19th-century bare-knuckle boxer, and the fictional character Sulley from *Monsters, Inc.*
Cross-referenced with Behind the Name and Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.
Etymology
The given name 'Sully' is a diminutive of the Irish surname Ó Súilleabháin, meaning "descendant of Súilleabhán," which itself derives from the Gaelic elements *súil* ("eye") and *leabhar* ("book" or "learned"), thus connoting "one-eyed" or "hawk-eyed." It is primarily used in English-speaking cultures, particularly Irish and American, with no specific religious association, though it gained modern notoriety through the historical figure Daniel "Sully" Sullivan, a 19th-century bare-knuckle boxer, and the fictional character Sulley from *Monsters, Inc.*
Sully currently ranks #3,371 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2011.
Variants & nicknames
Contribute to this name
Help improve this page with a meaning, origin, or correction—and get credited as a contributor.
Share your knowledge about this name—meaning, origin, pronunciation, or correction. Your contribution is reviewed and credited with your name.
Login to contributeWe use Google & Facebook login — no password needed.
Sibling name ideas
English names that sit beautifully beside SullySimilar names you might like
Names starting with SMore names starting with S
- Sahid
- Sagarika
- Sabrena
- Sahra
- Sahara
- Sabri
- Sadia
- Safiyyah
- Saige
- Safaa
- Sahana
- Saffron
- Saada
- Sahas
- Sahar
- Safet
- Saim
- Saif
🧬 See Sully's popularity the year you were born →
🔢 Get Sully's free numerology report card →
💫 Is Sully your name? Get your free “My name means…” card →
👶 Have a Sully already? Find sibling names that fit →
💬 Does Sully go with your surname? Check the rhythm, rhyme and initials →
Names that sound like Sully
Phonetic match, not just spelling"Soley is an Icelandic name derived from Old Norse elements "sól" (sun) and "ey" (island), meaning "sun island." The name…"
"Seela is derived from Sanskrit and means "conduct," "character," or "virtue," with roots in the word śīla (शील) which denotes…"
"Sueli is a Brazilian feminine given name derived from the Portuguese diminutive suffix "-li" combined with "Sue," which itself comes…"
"Sulo is a Finnish given name derived from the Germanic element "sūl" meaning "soul" or related to "solace," with roots…"
"The given name 'Sally' is derived from the Hebrew name 'Sarah', meaning 'lady' or 'princess', and is of Semitic linguistic…"
"Sille is a Scandinavian name derived from Old Norse roots, with meanings related to "herring" or "victory" depending on the…"
"Sahil means "shore" or "coast" and derives from Arabic, where it refers to the edge of water or land boundary."
"Saul derives from the Hebrew name Shaul (שאול), meaning "asked for" or "prayed for," from the root meaning to ask…"
"Sheila derives from the Irish name Síle, which comes from the Old Irish name Síla, meaning "fairy woman" or "woman…"
"# Salla Salla is a Finnish name derived from the word "salla," which means "shed" or "hut" in Finnish, originally…"
"Sol derives from the Latin word "sol," meaning "sun," and is rooted in Proto-Indo-European solar mythology and celestial observation."
"Sushil is a Sanskrit name derived from the root "su" (good/well) and "sheel" (character/conduct), meaning "of good character" or "well-behaved."…"