Namewise

Hudson vs Sullivan

Hudson and Sullivancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Hudson was ranked #42 and Sullivan #269 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Hudson was ranked #54 and Sullivan #307 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Hudson was ranked #99 and Sullivan #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.

Hudson and Sullivan over time

Hudson and Sullivan appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Hudson held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Sullivan in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Hudson and Sullivan changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #42 and #269.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Hudson #42 in 2024, Sullivan #269 in 2024.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Hudson held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sullivan in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Hudson #42 in 2024, Sullivan #269 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2005: Hudson moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #1160 and #999; by 2005 that had become #982 and #1246.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Hudson #42, Sullivan #269.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Hudson, Sullivan
FieldHudsonSullivan
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
Meaning'Son of Hudde', an English surname associated with explorer Henry Hudson.Not yet recorded
OriginEnglish (patronymic surname)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈhʌd.sən/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #8 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #269 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Hudson has a recorded origin (English (patronymic surname)); Sullivan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Hudson has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Sullivan.
  • A meaning is recorded for Hudson; Sullivan doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT.

How each name got here

Hudson

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #2863 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2012–2025

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2012–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

Sullivan

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #2020 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #269 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #269 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys