Rory vs Sullivan

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Rory

Boy #226 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"red king, famous ruler"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish Scottish English American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#226
Total SSA Count
1,594
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Rory →

Sullivan

Boy #340 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"descendant of the dark one"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish American English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#340
Total SSA Count
1,011
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Sully, Van

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Sullivan →

Popularity Comparison

Rory Rank #226
Sullivan Rank #340

Rory is more popular, ranked #226 vs #340 for Sullivan.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Rory ___

  • Rory James
  • Rory Patrick
  • Rory Thomas
  • Rory Owen
  • Rory Finn
  • Rory Declan

Sullivan ___

  • Sullivan James
  • Sullivan Patrick
  • Sullivan Thomas
  • Sullivan Reid
  • Sullivan Finn
  • Sullivan Grant

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Rory

Finn Declan Maeve Siobhan Kieran

If you choose Sullivan

Finnegan Declan Bridget Nora Callum

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rory or Sullivan more popular?

Rory is more popular, ranked #226 compared to Sullivan at #340 in the United States.

What do Rory and Sullivan mean?

Rory means "red king, famous ruler" (Irish Gaelic origin). Sullivan means "descendant of the dark one" (Irish Gaelic origin).

Are Rory and Sullivan boy or girl names?

Rory is primarily a boy name. Sullivan is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Rory ← Full profile: Sullivan Browse all baby names