Sullivan

@stingypeasant , I wouldn't call a baby Johnson or Collier or something. like that.

@stingypeasant , I don't think I would use any of those names as first names.

If I had to pick one it would be Oliver. I thought it was from olive and a first name.
I think of Gregory as a first name not a surname because of the popes, but I don't particularly like the name but I don't dislike it.

Lewis is quite nice as a middle name. Conor is ok as a first name but became too popular.

Conor has been a first name for over a thousand years , long before its use as a patronymic.

Except that’s not at all what I said. Did you give your own child a surname from another culture as a first name? Do you love the name Sullivan? If not, then why do you care so much?

What about Findlay, Elliot, Oliver, Kieffer, Gregory, Lewis, Harris or Connor?

I’m glad you pointed that out. All I could think of was One Eye.

@DuchessOfSausage

Yes, Solamh is the Irish form of Solomon. I never heard that it was in any way related to the name O'Sullivan as a pp suggested.

Don’t like it and will always, always be shortened to Sully

@LizzieAnt , I thought Solamh was like the Welsh Selyf (Selliv) and a form of Solomon. I'm only guessing.

https://forvo.com/word/%C3%B3_suilleabh%C3%A1in/

@SunnyFog
But O'Sullivan translates to Ó Súilleabháin or Ó Súileabháin, these days at least. It's not pronounced the same as O'Sullivan, it is similar though. There is a fada on the u (also on the second a). The etymology isn't certain but the first part is believed to be súil (eye). I've never heard that the surname is related to the first name Solamh (which does sound like the anglicised O'Sullivan). Have you read somewhere that the names Solamh and Sullivan are related or is it most probably a coincidence?

@stingypeasant , I think it is ok to say you don't like surnames as first names.
I don't like names like Harper, Piper or Hunter as first names or the names like Jackson and Harrison or McKenzie.
I don't particularly like names like Campbell, Cooper, Cassidy, Rafferty or Sullivan as first names either.

Yep. Absolutely we are. But it's a bit rich for people to say they detest surnames as first names but then accept that a whole bunch of commonly used names that started as surnames are fine. That means it's not the surname as a first name they don't like. It's just the babes themselves. Why can't people just say they don't like the names m?

@harrietm87 And I am perfectly entitled to my own opinion as to whether or not it’s cultural appropriation. As a presumably non Irish person you’re not really qualified to lecture me on that. There’s a very long history of how Irish names and Irish people were treated by the British and you’ll appreciate that your opinion about Persian and Ancient Greek names is entirely irrelevant.

As a non white personal I am fully aware of what is and what is not cultural appropriation. The point is, you can say what you want but by saying 'these Irish names' commonly used for 100 years are ok but 'these other Irish names' that have only in the past 15-20 years are cultural appropriation you just gone across as contrary and with no substance to your issue

I don't think Sullivan was ever a first name. Solamh would be the name. Genitive Solaimh and Solmhan (note no fadas ) hence O'Sullivan.

Love it! I often like surnames as first names.

Struggling to see the relevance when the OP is planning to name her child Sullivan, which is completely different name.

I don't like it. I knew a horrible family with that name! But that's not the main reason. We've got used to some surnames as first names, so maybe it's a matter of time to get used to it. Doubtless there was a time when Martin and Duncan and Kelly were only seen as surnames. From that pov Sullivan isn't too bad, but I much prefer Suleiman or Solomon. Don't like the nn Sully. It sounds like Dull, or Silly.

Bloody hell - we're all allowed to like some names and not like others! This thread has gone batshit!

Googled and the Scottish mountain Suilven has a completely different etymology. From the old Norse for 'pillar' and Scots Gaidhlig for mountain ' bheinn'.

Extraordinary looking place !

I like it and I don’t usually like surname type names. My sister had a boy after three girls, he completes her family perfectly.

@harrietm87 I think you'll find Suilven has had its name a heck of a long time.

Ive never said it’s chavvy.

And I am perfectly entitled to my own opinion as to whether or not it’s cultural appropriation. As a presumably non Irish person you’re not really qualified to lecture me on that. There’s a very long history of how Irish names and Irish people were treated by the British and you’ll appreciate that your opinion about Persian and Ancient Greek names is entirely irrelevant.

@Moomoo36 one though from a friend who has two names that can both be used as surnames, like Fraser Stewart, people sometimes mix up which way around they go.