Shawn Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Shawn is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Shawn?
Shawn is spelled S-H-A-W-N. The name has 5 letters.
Shawn at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Shawn is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Seán, a variant of John meaning “God is gracious.”
- Origin
- Shawn is commonly associated with the Irish form Seán, itself derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan through the English name John.
- Pronunciation
- SHON · 1 syllable
Shawn Popularity in 2025
Rank#7,885
Recorded Births13
Rank#681
Recorded Births399
- Girls usage fell 634 places to #7,885 and recorded 2 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 45 places to #681 and recorded 41 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 Shawn Mean?
Shawn is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Seán, a variant of John meaning “God is gracious.”
Origin: Shawn is commonly associated with the Irish form Seán, itself derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan through the English name John.
How Do You Pronounce Shawn?
PronunciationSHON
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Shawn?
- History
- Shawn has been used in English-speaking countries as an alternative spelling of Sean, reflecting Irish naming traditions adapted into English.
Shawn Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 13 | #7,885 |
| 2025 | Boys | 399 | #681 |
| 2024 | Girls | 15 | #7,251 |
| 2024 | Boys | 440 | #636 |
| 2023 | Girls | 8 | #11,169 |
| 2023 | Boys | 438 | #633 |
| 2022 | Girls | 14 | #7,631 |
| 2022 | Boys | 523 | #566 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6 | #13,464 |
| 2021 | Boys | 587 | #501 |
| 2020 | Girls | 11 | #8,953 |
| 2020 | Boys | 659 | #451 |
| 2019 | Girls | 12 | #8,597 |
| 2019 | Boys | 723 | #425 |
| 2018 | Girls | 17 | #6,792 |
| 2018 | Boys | 814 | #390 |
| 2017 | Girls | 14 | #7,840 |
| 2017 | Boys | 830 | #387 |
| 2016 | Girls | 13 | #8,393 |
| 2016 | Boys | 946 | #356 |
| 2015 | Girls | 8 | #11,835 |
| 2015 | Boys | 962 | #351 |
| 2014 | Girls | 15 | #7,636 |
| 2014 | Boys | 1,068 | #322 |
When Was Shawn 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.
1971 · Boys
12,825 recorded births
National rank #28
1973 · Boys
11,451 recorded births
National rank #27
1974 · Boys
11,438 recorded births
National rank #30
1972 · Boys
11,277 recorded births
National rank #28
Where Shawn 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 |
|---|---|---|
| DE | #168 | 6 |
| MD | #407 | 12 |
| PA | #415 | 25 |
| MI | #420 | 20 |
| KS | #468 | 7 |
| KY | #485 | 9 |
| OH | #500 | 21 |
| SC | #501 | 9 |