Sean: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced SHAWN · 1 syllable
Sean means “God is gracious”, from Irish.
Anglicised form of Irish Sean, from Old French Jehan, from Latin Johannes, variant of Ioannes, from Koine Greek (Ioannes), from Hebrew (Yohanan, literally “God is gracious”). Doublet of John, Jack, Johan, Johann, Johannes, Jean, Ian, Evan, Ivan, Shaun, Shane, and Giovanni.
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- SHAWN
- US rank (2025)
- #489
- US babies a year
- about 1,250 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1970
How popular is Sean?
Sean was the #489 name in the US in 2025, given to 623 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 66% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1970.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #489 |
| England & Wales | #509 |
| Scotland | #213 |
| Northern Ireland | #68 |
| Ireland | #13 |
| Canada | #543 |
| Australia | #913 |
How old are people named Sean?
Half of US adults named Sean are older than 44; most are between 22 and 62. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Sean
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Sean have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Sean
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Sean
What does the name Sean mean?
Sean means “God is gracious”. It comes from Irish.
How do you pronounce Sean?
Sean is pronounced SHAWN.
How popular is the name Sean?
Sean was the #489 name in the US in 2025, given to 623 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 66% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1970.
How old are people named Sean?
Half of US adults named Sean are older than 44. Most are between 22 and 62.