Shawn
“God is gracious”
American origin · Unisex name
#633US 2023
437Births / yr
↓Falling
337.1kAll-time births
📅 Since 193200.11% of births at peak
How to pronounce Shawn
SAY·AN
/ˈseɪ.ˈæn/ · stress on SAY · 2 syllables
“God is gracious”
American origin · Unisex name
What does Shawn mean and where does it come from?
Shawn is traditionally a male name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Seán,' but has increasingly been used as a unisex name in recent years. As a female name, it reflects a modern trend towards gender-neutral naming. The name's popularity surged in the 1970s in the United States. The meaning
Cultural significance
Shawn has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in American-speaking communities, where it reflects values of god is gracious.
Peak popularity
Reached #168 in 1970 — currently #633 in the US.
How else can you spell Shawn?
Same sound, different look — useful if you want something slightly more distinctive
What middle names flow best with Shawn?
Shawn works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful
Shawn Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Shawn Rose
Floral · soft ending
Shawn Mae
Sweet · timeless
Shawn Claire
French influence · crisp
Shawn Jane
Literary · strong
Shawn Skye
Modern · airy feel
How popular is Shawn right now?
Falling — down 65 spots — currently #633 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names
The story of Shawn
Shawn entered American naming records in 1932 and has been in use for over 92 years. More than 337,092 babies have been named Shawn since 1932. The name has grown more popular over time, rising from #3182 in 1940 to #633 in 2023. Shawn is used for both genders: 10% female and 90% male.
Names that peaked alongside Shawn in 1970:
Shawn by decade
Shawn peaked in the 1970s. See all 1970s names →
| Decade | Births | |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 63 | |
| 1940s | 721 | |
| 1950s | 10,452 | |
| 1960s | 60,888 | |
| 1970s ★ | 117,190 | |
| 1980s | 68,297 | |
| 1990s | 43,536 | |
| 2000s | 24,523 | |
| 2010s | 10,763 | |
| 2020s | 659 |
What are good nicknames for Shawn?
ARMENIAN
HovikHovo
BRETON
YanickYannicYannick
BULGARIAN
IvoYanko
CROATIAN
IvicaIvoJankoVanja
What names sound and feel like Shawn?
Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Shawn also consider these
How is Shawn written in other languages?
Gender variants of Shawn
Lashawn AFRICAN AMERICANTajuana AFRICAN AMERICANJone BASQUEIoanna BIBLICAL GREEKIohanna BIBLICAL LATINJoanna BIBLICALIoana BULGARIANIvana BULGARIANIvanka BULGARIANYana BULGARIANYanka BULGARIANYoana BULGARIANJana CATALANJoana CATALANIvana CROATIANIvanka CROATIANNina CROATIANŽana CROATIANIva CZECHIvana CZECHIvanka CZECHIvka CZECHJana CZECHJanička CZECHJohana CZECHNina CZECHHanna DANISHHanne DANISHJanne DANISHJannicke DANISHJannike DANISHJeanette DANISHJohanna DANISHJohanne DANISHJonna DANISHNina DANISHVanja DANISHHanna DUTCHHanne DUTCHHannie DUTCHJana DUTCHJanine DUTCHJanna DUTCHJanneke DUTCHJantine DUTCHJantje DUTCHJeanette DUTCHJeanine DUTCHJeannette DUTCHJennigje DUTCHJenny DUTCHJohanna DUTCHJohanneke DUTCHNina DUTCHGenette ENGLISHJan ENGLISHJanae ENGLISHJane ENGLISHJaneka ENGLISHJanel ENGLISHJanele ENGLISHJanella ENGLISHJanelle ENGLISHJanene ENGLISHJanessa ENGLISHJanet ENGLISHJanetta ENGLISHJanette ENGLISHJaney ENGLISHJanice ENGLISHJanie ENGLISHJanine ENGLISHJanis ENGLISHJanna ENGLISHJannah ENGLISHJannette ENGLISHJannine ENGLISHJayna ENGLISHJayne ENGLISHJaynie ENGLISHJean ENGLISHJeana ENGLISHJeane ENGLISHJeanette ENGLISHJeanie ENGLISHJeanine ENGLISHJeanna ENGLISHJeanne ENGLISHJeannette ENGLISHJeannie ENGLISHJeannine ENGLISHJeni ENGLISHJenna ENGLISHJenni ENGLISHJennie ENGLISHJenny ENGLISHJessalyn ENGLISHJessi ENGLISHJessie ENGLISHJessye ENGLISHJo ENGLISHJoan ENGLISHJoanie ENGLISHJoann ENGLISHJoanna ENGLISHJoanne ENGLISHJoetta ENGLISHJoey ENGLISHJohanna ENGLISHJohna ENGLISHJohnna ENGLISHJojo ENGLISHJoleen ENGLISHJolene ENGLISHJonelle ENGLISHJonette ENGLISHJoni ENGLISHJonie ENGLISHNena ENGLISHNetta ENGLISHNettie ENGLISHNina ENGLISHSeanna ENGLISHShauna ENGLISHShavonne ENGLISHShawna ENGLISHSheena ENGLISHSheenagh ENGLISHShena ENGLISHShevaun ENGLISHShevon ENGLISHJohanna ESTONIANHanna FINNISHHannele FINNISHJanika FINNISHJanina FINNISHJanna FINNISHJenna FINNISHJenni FINNISHJenny FINNISHJohanna FINNISHJonna FINNISHNina FINNISHJanine FRENCHJeanette FRENCHJeanine FRENCHJeanne FRENCHJeannette FRENCHJeannine FRENCHJoanne FRENCHJohanne FRENCHNina FRENCHNinette FRENCHXoana GALICIANHanna GERMANHanne GERMANJana GERMANJanina GERMANJanine GERMANJenny GERMANJohanna GERMANNina GERMANGianna GREEKIoanna GREEKNana GREEKYanna GREEKHanna HUNGARIANJohanna HUNGARIANZsanett HUNGARIANJenný ICELANDICJóhanna ICELANDICJóna ICELANDICChevonne IRISHShavonne IRISHShevaun IRISHShevon IRISHSíne IRISHSinéad IRISHSiobhán IRISHGia ITALIANGianna ITALIANGiannina ITALIANGiovanna ITALIANGiovannetta ITALIANNina ITALIANVanna ITALIANJohanna LATE ROMANJanina LITHUANIANIvana MACEDONIANJovana MACEDONIANJovanka MACEDONIANJovka MACEDONIANVana MACEDONIANJehanne MEDIEVAL FRENCHJohanne MEDIEVAL FRENCHHanna NORWEGIANHanne NORWEGIANJanne NORWEGIANJannicke NORWEGIANJannike NORWEGIANJeanette NORWEGIANJohanna NORWEGIANJohanne NORWEGIANNina NORWEGIANVanja NORWEGIANAsia POLISHJanina POLISHJoanna POLISHJoasia POLISHNina POLISHJoana PORTUGUESEJoaninha PORTUGUESEIoana ROMANIANIonela ROMANIANOana ROMANIANIvanna RUSSIANYana RUSSIANZhanna RUSSIANZhannochka RUSSIANGiuanna SARDINIANJean SCOTTISHJessie SCOTTISHSeona SCOTTISHSeonag SCOTTISHSeònaid SCOTTISHSheena SCOTTISHSheona SCOTTISHShona SCOTTISHSìne SCOTTISHSìneag SCOTTISHTeasag SCOTTISHIvana SERBIANIvanka SERBIANJovana SERBIANJovanka SERBIANNina SERBIANIva SLOVAKIvana SLOVAKIvanka SLOVAKIvka SLOVAKJana SLOVAKJanka SLOVAKNina SLOVAKIva SLOVENEIvana SLOVENEIvanka SLOVENEJana SLOVENENina SLOVENEŽana SLOVENEJenny SPANISHJuana SPANISHJuanita SPANISHHanna SWEDISHJanina SWEDISHJanna SWEDISHJannicke SWEDISHJannike SWEDISHJeanette SWEDISHJennie SWEDISHJenny SWEDISHJohanna SWEDISHJonna SWEDISHNina SWEDISHVanja SWEDISHYana UKRAINIANShan WELSHSiân WELSHSiana WELSHSiani WELSHSioned WELSHSiwan WELSHJackson ENGLISHJaxon ENGLISHJaxson ENGLISHMalone ENGLISHSinjin ENGLISHYancy ENGLISHYahweh THEOLOGYBevan WELSH
Common questions about the name Shawn
What does the name Shawn mean?
Shawn means "God is gracious" — a name rooted in American tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Shawn?
Shawn is currently ranked #633 as a baby name in the US and is becoming rarer and more distinctive, making it a unique choice that stands out.
What is the cultural origin of Shawn?
Shawn originates from American tradition. American names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Shawn?
Shawn is a two-syllable name pronounced S EY1 AE1 N. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
Is Shawn more of a girl or boy name?
Shawn is a genuinely unisex name used for both boys and girls. The unisex quality makes it particularly versatile for modern families.
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