Shane: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced SHAYN · 1 syllable
Shane means “God is gracious”, from Irish.
Anglicized form of the Northern Irish pronunciation 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, Sean, Shaun, and Giovanni as a male name.
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- SHAYN
- US rank (2025)
- #635
- US babies a year
- about 585 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1970
How popular is Shane?
Shane was the #635 name in the US in 2025, given to 439 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 63% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1970.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #635 |
| England & Wales | #922 |
| Scotland | #599 |
| Northern Ireland | #180 |
| Ireland | #147 |
| Canada | #719 |
| Australia | #600 |
How old are people named Shane?
Half of US adults named Shane are older than 40; most are between 21 and 59. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Shane
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Shane have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Shane
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Shane
What does the name Shane mean?
Shane means “God is gracious”. It comes from Irish.
How do you pronounce Shane?
Shane is pronounced SHAYN.
How popular is the name Shane?
Shane was the #635 name in the US in 2025, given to 439 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 63% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1970.
How old are people named Shane?
Half of US adults named Shane are older than 40. Most are between 21 and 59.