The first name Shawn
A boy’s name from Irish meaning “god is gracious”.
Pronounced /ʃɔn/ 1 syllable Male
Meaning and origin
Irish origin
Shawn means “god is gracious” in Irish.
A variant of Sean, from Irish Seán, from Old French Jehan, from Latin Jōhannēs, variant of Iōannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (yōḥānān, yokhanán, literally “God is gracious”). Doublet of Evan, Giovanni, Ian, Ivan, Jack, Jean, Johan, Johann, Johannes, John, Juan, Sean, Shane, and Shaun as a male name. Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena as a female name.
More names that mean grace.
A form of Shaun.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 21 boys were named Shawn, making it the 1,307th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2007, with 52 births (#580).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Shawn with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Shawn at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 399 boys born in the United States were named Shawn, the 682nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1971, when 12,825 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Shawn
64 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Shawn MendesCanadian singer, born 1998
- Shawn MichaelsAmerican professional wrestler, born 1965
- Shawn LevyCanadian fimmaker (born 1968)
- Shawn MarionAmerican basketball player (born 1978)
- Shawn AshmoreCanadian actor, born 1979
- Shawn WayansAmerican actor, DJ, producer, writer and comedian, born 1971
- Shawn Johnson EastAmerican artistic gymnast (born 1992)
- Shawn CrahanAmerican percussionist, born 1969
- Shawn BradleyAmerican basketball player, born 1972
- Shawn KempAmerican basketball player (born 1969)
- Shawn WeatherlyAmerican beauty queen, actress (active 1980–)
- Shawn CrawfordAmerican sprinter, born 1978
More Irish boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Shawn mean?
- Shawn means “god is gracious” in Irish.
- What is the origin of the name Shawn?
- A variant of Sean, from Irish Seán, from Old French Jehan, from Latin Jōhannēs, variant of Iōannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (yōḥānān, yokhanán, literally “God is gracious”). Doublet of Evan, Giovanni, Ian, Ivan, Jack, Jean, Johan, Johann, Johannes, John, Juan,…
- How popular is the name Shawn?
- In 2025, 21 boys born in England and Wales were named Shawn, ranking 1,307th. Its peak was 2007, with 52 births.
- Is Shawn a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 339,597 US babies named Shawn since 1880, 10% were girls and 90% boys.
- When was Shawn most popular?
- 1971 in the United States, when 12,825 babies were named Shawn, its highest rank at 28th.
- How do you pronounce Shawn?
- Shawn is /ʃɔn/, one syllable.
- What name is Shawn a form of?
- Shawn is a form of Shaun.