Sean Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Sean is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Sean?
Sean is spelled S-E-A-N. The name has 4 letters.
Sean at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Sean is the Irish form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning “Yahweh is gracious.”
- Origin
- Sean is associated with Irish language and culture as the Gaelic form of the name John.
- Pronunciation
- shawn · 1 syllable
Sean Popularity in 2025
Rank#11,932
Recorded Births7
Rank#489
Recorded Births616
- Girls usage fell 810 places to #11,932 and recorded 1 fewer birth compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 54 places to #489 and recorded 114 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Sean Mean?
Sean is the Irish form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning “Yahweh is gracious.”
Origin: Sean is associated with Irish language and culture as the Gaelic form of the name John.
How Do You Pronounce Sean?
Pronunciationshawn
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Sean?
- History
- Sean has been used in Ireland as a given name representing John and has historical usage in Irish-speaking communities.
Sean Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2011 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 7 | #11,932 |
| 2025 | Boys | 616 | #489 |
| 2024 | Girls | 8 | #11,122 |
| 2024 | Boys | 730 | #435 |
| 2023 | Boys | 741 | #427 |
| 2022 | Boys | 803 | #397 |
| 2021 | Boys | 900 | #362 |
| 2020 | Girls | 8 | #11,090 |
| 2020 | Boys | 976 | #334 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,128 | #301 |
| 2018 | Girls | 5 | #15,682 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,325 | #268 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,481 | #251 |
| 2016 | Girls | 6 | #14,331 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,671 | #233 |
| 2015 | Girls | 7 | #13,006 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,895 | #210 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,125 | #193 |
| 2013 | Girls | 14 | #8,135 |
| 2013 | Boys | 2,203 | #185 |
| 2012 | Girls | 14 | #8,208 |
| 2012 | Boys | 2,777 | #145 |
| 2011 | Girls | 9 | #11,181 |
| 2011 | Boys | 3,192 | #125 |
When Was Sean Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1990 · Boys
12,018 recorded births
National rank #37
1989 · Boys
11,895 recorded births
National rank #39
1988 · Boys
11,794 recorded births
National rank #38
1986 · Boys
11,784 recorded births
National rank #37
Where Sean Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #168 | 5 |
| DE | #203 | 5 |
| MA | #230 | 26 |
| NH | #230 | 5 |
| MD | #257 | 21 |
| CT | #268 | 12 |
| NJ | #284 | 31 |
| NY | #338 | 52 |