Esean
A gender-neutral name of American origin meaning "a gift from God".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Esean. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Esean today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Esean births was 2009 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Esean. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Esean. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2009
6 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2009 SSA rank
#11,435
Tracked since 2009
Popularity
Esean: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Esean by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Esean during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Esean
The name Esean is a relatively uncommon and unique given name with an intriguing and multifaceted history. Its origins can be traced back to the Gaelic language, which was spoken by Celtic tribes in ancient Ireland, Scotland, and parts of England. Esean is derived from the Gaelic word "eas," which means "waterfall" or "cascade," suggesting a connection to nature and the powerful beauty of rushing waters.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Esean can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history dating back to the 15th century. The name appears in reference to a notable figure, Esean O'Cahan, who was a chieftain and leader of the O'Cahan clan in Ulster, Ireland, during the late 16th century.
In the realm of literature, the name Esean is mentioned in the epic Irish poem "The Tain Bo Cuailnge," also known as "The Cattle Raid of Cooley." This ancient tale, which dates back to the 8th or 9th century AD, features a character named Esean mac Fergus, who plays a pivotal role in the story's events.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Esean. One such figure was Esean O'Donnell (c. 1500-1565), an Irish chieftain and military leader who played a significant role in the Nine Years' War against English forces in Ireland during the late 16th century.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Esean MacSweeney (1887-1920), an Irish republican and playwright who was one of the leaders of the Irish independence movement in the early 20th century. He was imprisoned by British authorities during the Irish War of Independence and tragically died on hunger strike in 1920.
In the world of sports, Esean Johnson (born 1977) is a former professional basketball player from the United States who enjoyed a successful career in the NBA, playing for teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Chicago Bulls.
Esean Anderson (born 1980) is an American actor and filmmaker, best known for his roles in films like "Hustle & Flow" and "The Wire" television series. He has also directed several short films and music videos.
Finally, Esean Murphy (born 1974) is a Canadian actor and musician who has appeared in several television shows and films, including "Supernatural" and "The Killing."
While the name Esean may not be as widely recognized as some other names, its rich history and connections to ancient Celtic cultures, literature, and notable individuals throughout the centuries make it a fascinating and unique choice for a given name.
People
Esean + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Esean as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Esean: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Esean?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Esean going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Esean a common name?
We classify Esean as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Esean most popular?
The single biggest year for Esean was 2009, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Esean is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Esean in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Esean a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Esean in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Esean still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Esean in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Esean can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Esean?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.