Tully ranks 1995 in the pet registry with 50 male animals. It's an Irish surname used as a given name — from the Gaelic Ó Taithligh, meaning peaceful — and carries the specific warmth of Irish-origin names that owners choose for their friendly, approachable sound rather than deep etymological research.
The Irish Surname Register
Tully sits alongside Callahan, Finnegan, and Gallagher in the category of Irish surnames repurposed as pet names by owners with Irish heritage or simply affection for the sound. It's not as heavily used as Finn or Murphy, which gives it a slightly less crowded position in the Irish-origin pet name landscape. Irish Setters and Irish Wolfhounds carry the geographic logic with obvious conviction.
The Phonetic Profile
Tully has a soft double-L and an open -y ending that land warmly in a call. It's not sharp or aggressive — the name suits cheerful, bouncy dogs more naturally than serious working breeds. The two-syllable structure (TUL-ee) is easy to sustain across a yard. Compare with Riley and Barley for names with a similar phonetic warmth.
The Counter-Reading: Underused in Human Naming
Tully is rare enough as a human given name that its SSA presence is minimal. That keeps it feeling fresh as a pet name rather than borrowed — no one assumes you named the dog after a person. The name's obscurity is part of its appeal for owners who want something Irish-flavored but not overexposed. Browse Irish-origin pet names for the full register.