Shawn
Gender: Boy
Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Irish/English
Popularity: Ranked #682 in 2025 with 399 babies born.
History: Shawn peaked in the 1980s-90s as the phonetic American spelling of Sean. Shawn Mendes brought the name pop music stardom. The spelling itself is a cultural statement — Irish Sean made American through phonetics. Shawn represents the practical American approach: spell it how it sounds, don't worry about the Gaelic.
Name length: 5 letters
How common is Shawn? About 1 in 8,079 babies born in 2025 were named Shawn, or roughly 1.1 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Shawn
What does the name Shawn mean?
Shawn means “God is gracious” from Irish/English roots.
What is the origin of the name Shawn?
Shawn has Irish/English origin. The traditional meaning is “God is gracious”.
How popular is Shawn?
Shawn ranked #681 in 2025 — given to 399 babies that year.
When was Shawn most popular?
Shawn peaked in 1971 with 12,825 babies registered that year.
Is Shawn a boy or girl name?
Shawn is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Shawns in registered births are male.
Is the name Shawn rising or falling in popularity?
Shawn has risen 8269 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #8950 in 2020 to #681 in 2025.
How long has Shawn been recorded?
Shawn appears in birth records across 92 years — from 1931 through 2025.