Sullivan nn Sully??

[anotherlittlesquish]

Hi everyone!

We are due our 2nd baby boy in a few weeks and are struggling to name him.

His older brother is Tobias (Toby) and we’re leaning towards Sullivan (Sully). I really like Sullivan but I’m not sure I’m as keen on the inevitable nn of Sully.

Other names were considering are:

Sonny
Arthur
Myles
Rupert

What are your thoughts on these names?
Thanks! X

The Monsters Inc character’s surname is Sullivan. It is a surname.

Rooney Mara like a pp said is actually Patricia. Rooney is her mother’s maiden name (or at least a family name I think).

I also commented on the Cassidy thread. It’s always Irish surnames for some reason, which I guess must be the American influence. Still bizarre though - can’t imagine there suddenly being a trend for English kids being called stuff like Patel, Kumar or Singh, or Lopez, Sanchez, Rodriguez.

Ah yeah, well i had thought about Sullivan being a common surname, didn’t think that was too much of an issue but apparently so!
We don’t have any Irish ancestry (that I know of) and we live in Wales where I suppose it’s not that common but not totally unheard of.

We have a similar problem with Myles aswell unfortunately as we have very close friends with the surname Miles.

Our last name is 1 syllable starting with P if that makes a difference.

Love Sullivan/Sully.

Also love Gulliver

I don't like Sully because of what the word sully means

I like it

Any of them other than Sullivan / Sully

If my brother had an amazing name with a long history like Tobias and I ended up with a repurposed surname I’d be really pissed.

The world is full of Arthurs so I’d go for Myles

Rupert is OK

Gulliver IS nice though

OP, I don't take issue with people giving their kids Irish surname names, I just find it interesting as a trend. I suppose it must come via America as a pp mentioned. They love a good surname as first name. All the occupation names like Cooper and Mason, Irish surnames like Sullivan and Brady and they also like preppy sounding surnames like Emerson and Hayes. Hilary Duff called her daughter BANKS, that to me is the weirdest baby name ever. Leaves Moon Unit in the the dust.

Go with Sullivan if it's the one you love. The rest of your list are fine too. Except for Rupert. But it's a marmite name so will either be loved or hated.

I don't like Sully, it means 'to spoil', it's quite negative to me?

* It's one of the most common Irish surnames, and would be like calling your child Smith or Jones, to be known as Jonesy.*

^This

@FelicityPike

Rooney Mara is called Patricia, Rooney is her middle name.

Thanks, didn't know that. I'm now laughing at her being called Patricia too. She's the most unPatricia-ish Patricia I've ever seen!

Myles is the best of a bad bunch .

Why would you want to call your child something that means to make dirty or to ruin? I don't get it. Also it's a big turquoise monster.

I dont think I'd bat an eyelid hearing it as a first name. If you love it go for it. Out of the others we have a lot of Arthurs everywhere if popularity bothers you. I love Myles. Good luck choosing.

My nephew is Sullivan nn Sully and it suits him so well. He does occasionally get called Sully Monster by close family

Sully is a big blue monster, as pps said. Plus it sounds like 'sullen', which is a bit unfortunate.

The only name you've listed that I like is Myles, although I prefer the 'Miles' spelling.

To sully is to spoil, or mar.

DS2 (7) is Sullivan. Love his name, it was a toss up between Sullivan or Lachlan but he was born on Patrick’s Day so was definitely a Sullivan.

His nickname is Sully or Van. He’s the only one where we live (island in Caribbean), but loves his name.

Honestly put in the real world, as opposed to the skewed MN world, no one would bat an eye at Sullivan as a first name. If you love it, it’s perfectly useable. I personally don’t mind Sullivan, but not keen on Sully. Quite like pp’s suggestion of Gulliver/Gully.

Otherwise any of your other names would be fine. Miles (prefer this spelling) is my favourite, followed by Rupert (def marmite), Arthur (they’re everywhere now) and Sonny (different feel to the others).

If you like Sullivan why noy kust use that? Its not essential (or particularly usual in the uk as a whole) to insrantly create a diminutive of a name from birth.
A name like Tobias has a vommonly used shotening to Toby so usnt unusual. But its jot common to look deliberatly to be able yo look to shorten a name. Often true nicknames evelen thry are relayed to a persons chsracteristics and signs if endearment, bizarre things like bunny, bean, wolf etc.
Chose a name you love and let a nickmame naturally appear when ypu know that child for a personal reason😊

I don't love the cultural appropriation of Irish names by the non-Irish but I don't think you'll be competing with the Irish on this one. It does remind me a bit about our neighbour's cat which is called Murphy

Not keen on Sully which will be inevitable - Arthur yes! If I was to have another, that would be my first choice. Congratulations to you

Ps I do like 'surnames' as first names - both mine have them. But, I'm not Irish, my ex isn't either but his family are so my kids have an Irish last name which is now used a lot as a first name - Rafferty - I know four!

@Wordleone I don't love the cultural appropriation of Irish names by the non-Irish

I see this sort of statement all the time on here and I don’t really understand it - I’m Australian, born here as were my parents and grandparents. So what names am I allowed to use in your opinion?

Good, strong name. Popular in Australia I’ve heard.
But they will be a Sully…