Shawn

Q: What is the origin of Shawn?

Shawn is of Irish origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: Is Shawn a boy name?

Shawn is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"God Is Gracious"

Anglicized form of Seán, itself a Gaelic adaptation of John, conveying the theme of divine grace.

Themes:irishbiblicalanglicized

Biblical UnisexGender-neutral

Fact-checked by Marcus Chen

B.A. Anthropology, UC BerkeleyMultilingual (4 languages)Cultural Research Fellow • Senior Name Researcher

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Shawn

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#638Top 1000

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

#638

Shawn was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

-5

lower than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Shawn Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Shawn.

9 ideas

Shawny

Nickname

shay

Nickname

shaw

Nickname

shawny

Nickname

shawnie

Nickname

awny

Nickname

hawn

Nickname

sho

Nickname

shie

Nickname

Similar Names to Shawn

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Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

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Andrew

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AIR-un

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Adam

AD-um

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AY-dree-un

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AY-den

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Aidan

“Little Fiery One”

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“Happy, Blessed”

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Baby Name Lists That Include Shawn

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Shawn, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

18 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Shawn mean?

Shawn means "God Is Gracious". Anglicized form of Seán, itself a Gaelic adaptation of John, conveying the theme of divine grace.

What is the origin of Shawn?

Shawn is of Irish origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Shawn?

According to the latest SSA data, Shawn is currently ranked #638 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Shawn a boy name?

Shawn is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Shawn?

Popular nicknames for Shawn include Shawny, shay, shaw, shawny, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Shawn?

There are many names similar to Shawn in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginIrish

Syllables1

Length5 letters

US Rank#638

Trend↓ Falling

Starts withS

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Corey Conner Conor Caiden Case

Sisters

Ashlyn Aileen Ayleen Briana Bridget

Explore More Boy Names Like Shawn

Shawn has Irish roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Irish baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Shawn appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Beautiful Irish Baby Names and Biblical Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Gender-Neutral Baby Names and Names That Mean Grace.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Shawn pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Shawn beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.