Shawn

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Girl or boy · Irish, from Hebrew

Shawn

Say it: SHAWN

Try it with your surname

Meaning

An anglicized spelling of Irish Seán, the Irish form of John, from Hebrew Yohanan 'God is gracious'.

Certainscholars agree on this meaning.

Popular for American boys from the 1960s to the 1990s, and also given to girls.

Its wave through time

A fashion of the 1970s

In the United States

337,127 babies given this name since 1931
At its height in 1971, about 1 in 138 boys
659 babies in 2020

Through the ages

The Modern Age1880 to today

Used by

American African American

The family of the name

Other spellings: Sean, Shaun

Irish	Seán

Famous bearers

Shawn Mendes, Canadian singer

Names worth a look

FlorenceGirl or boyFrom Latin Florentius and Florentia, from florens 'flourishing'.Middle Ages · peak 1898

TiffanyGirlThe medieval vernacular form of Greek Theophania 'manifestation of God', the name of the feast of Epiphany; girls…Middle Ages · peak 1988

LoisGirlUncertain. Possibly from a Greek word meaning 'better, more desirable', but the origin is not known.Biblical · peak 1929

KathyGirlA pet form of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterine, whose origin is unknown; the link to katharos 'pure' is a later folk…Modern · peak 1958 · forgotten

TammyGirlA pet form of Tamara (Hebrew 'date palm') or Tamsin (Thomasina).Modern · peak 1968 · forgotten

KaylaGirlA modern American name of uncertain origin, probably built on Kay with the ending -la. Claims that it is Hebrew for…Modern · peak 1991

ShannonGirl or boyFrom the River Shannon in Ireland (Sionainn), linked in legend with the goddess Sionann; the meaning 'old, wise one'…Modern · peak 1976

ShaneBoyAn Anglicized spelling of Irish Seaghán (Seán), the Irish form of John, from Hebrew Yochanan 'God is gracious'.Renaissance · peak 1973

Where this comes from

United States Social Security birth records, 1880 to today source
United States Social Security birth records, 1880 to today source

Meanings and histories are compiled from the study of names and their languages and checked by a second review.

Meanings and histories are drawn from the study of names and their languages, each with a confidence rating; popularity figures come from official birth records. Name histories are a living field: if you know of a correction, we would be glad to hear it.