Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Shawn
BoyIrish, Hebrew· “God is gracious”
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Irish, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- SHAWN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #682
- US babies 2025
- 399
- Best rank
- #27 (1973)
- Peak year
- 1971
Meaning and origin of Shawn
Shawn is an Irish and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
Shawn is an English phonetic spelling of the Irish Seán, the Irish form of John. John goes back to the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious," and Seán entered Irish through the Norman French Jehan. The spelling Shawn became common in the United States in the mid twentieth century as Irish names gained wide appeal, alongside Sean and Shaun. It has a relaxed, approachable character and a single-syllable simplicity that makes it easy to pair with longer middle names. Shawn is used mainly for boys, though it has occasionally been given to girls as well.
Popularity over time
Shawn first appears in US Social Security records in 1931. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 79 different years, starting in 1947. Its best national rank was #27 in 1973, and the most babies received it in 1971, when 12,825 were named Shawn. In 2025, 399 babies were named Shawn, and it ranked #682 nationally. That is 58% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #508 in 1950, #47 in 1980, #135 in 2000, #236 in 2010, and #682 in 2025. Of the 306,542 US boys named Shawn since records began, 35% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 65,598 babies. Since 2010, 13,719 more have been named Shawn.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Chad, Troy, Marc, Brent, and Eric.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Shawn ranked highest in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | #199 | 6 |
| Pennsylvania | #425 | 25 |
| Maryland | #432 | 12 |
| Michigan | #442 | 20 |
| Ohio | #511 | 21 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Shawn over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Shawn is usually pronounced SHAWN, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-wn”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Sean and Shaun.
Middle names for Shawn
A few middle names that flow with Shawn: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Shawn
Similar names
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Lists that include Shawn
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shawn mean?
Shawn is an Irish and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Shawn?
Shawn has Irish and Hebrew roots. Shawn is an English phonetic spelling of the Irish Seán, the Irish form of John.
Is Shawn a popular name?
Yes. Shawn ranked #682 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Shawn a boy or girl name?
Shawn is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Shawn over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Shawn?
Shawn is usually pronounced SHAWN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings