Sean
Sean is the Irish form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan meaning 'God is gracious.' It became popular outside Ireland in the 20th century and maintains a strong Celtic identity while feeling accessible and modern.
Current Popularity
#436 for boys
in the United States (2024)
Popularity over time
Good to Know
- •Pronunciation is 'Shawn' - may require correction from those unfamiliar with Irish names
- •Multiple spellings exist (Shawn, Shaun) but Sean is the traditional Irish version
- •Easy to pronounce once learned, with no common misspellings
- •Works well across cultures while maintaining Irish heritage
- •Multiple spelling variations exist
Similar Names
Famous People
Sean Connery
Actor, original James Bond
Sean Penn
Actor and filmmaker
Sean Combs
Rapper and entrepreneur (P. Diddy)
Sean Astin
Actor (The Lord of the Rings)
Statistics
423,036
Total births since 1880
1990
Peak year
Discovery
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