Sean

How to say it

ʃɔːn

What it means

The Irish form of John, from the Hebrew for 'God is gracious.'

Sean is the Irish form of John, which comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' The Irish spelling, pronounced SHAWN, traveled the world with the diaspora and was carried by stars like Sean Connery. Shaun and Shawn are the phonetic spellings. A modern classic. Said SHAWN.

How to spell Sean

The standard spelling is Sean. Common variants include Shaun, Shawn, Seán, but Sean is the most widely used form.

Heads-up notes

• Pronunciation

  SHAWN, the Irish form of John.

• Pop culture

  Actor Sean Connery.

Who's worn it

Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.

• Sean Connery Scottish actor and the first to play James Bond on screen
• Sean Penn American actor and two-time Academy Award winner

Spelling variants

• Shaun
• Shawn
• Seán

Names with the same feeling

• John God is gracious
• Ian God is gracious
• Liam Resolute protector
• Ronan Little seal
• Owen Young warrior, or 'well-born'

See Sean from another angle

Common questions

What does the name Sean mean?

The Irish form of John, from the Hebrew for 'God is gracious.'

What does Sean mean in Irish?

In Irish, Sean means "God is gracious." Sean is the Irish form of John, which comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' The Irish spelling, pronounced SHAWN, traveled the world with the diaspora and was carried by stars like Sean Connery. Shaun and Shawn are the phonetic spellings. A modern classic. Said SHAWN.

How do you pronounce Sean?

Sean is pronounced ʃɔːn. Say it as SEAN, with the stress on the "sean" syllable.

How do you spell Sean?

The standard spelling is Sean. Common spelling variants include Shaun, Shawn, Seán.

Is Sean a boy or girl name?

Sean is traditionally a masculine name.

How popular is the name Sean?

Sean ranked #489 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.