Find out how popular the first name Shawn has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Shawn by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Shawn is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 96% of people named Shawn being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 436 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Shawn.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 8 baby girls were named Shawn in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Shawn

The name Shawn has its origins in the Irish language, derived from the Gaelic name Seán or Shawn, which is a variation of the Hebrew name John or Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." The name Shawn gained popularity in English-speaking countries due to the influence of Irish culture and immigration.

The name Shawn can be traced back to the early medieval period in Ireland, where it was a common name among Irish Christians. It is believed to have been introduced to Ireland by early Christian missionaries who brought the name from its Hebrew roots, adapting it to the Irish language and culture.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Shawn can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Seán Ua Cearnaigh" in the year 1169. This individual was likely a member of the influential O'Kearney clan in Ireland.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shawn. One of the most famous was Shawn O'Neill (c. 1530-1567), an Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Neill clan who fought against English rule in Ireland during the 16th century.

Another prominent historical figure with the name Shawn was Shawn O'Byrne (c. 1531-1597), an Irish lord and rebel leader who participated in the Second Desmond Rebellion against English forces in Ireland.

In the literary realm, Shawn Berne (1608-1680) was an Irish poet and writer who composed works in both Irish and English, contributing to the preservation of Irish language and culture during a turbulent period of English colonization.

A more modern example is Shawn Fanning (born 1980), an American computer programmer who created the revolutionary peer-to-peer file-sharing application Napster, which had a significant impact on the music industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Finally, Shawn Mendes (born 1998) is a contemporary Canadian singer-songwriter who has achieved global fame and success in the music industry, particularly known for his hits like "Stitches" and "Treat You Better."

These examples illustrate the rich history and cultural significance of the name Shawn, which has endured through centuries and across various domains, from political and military leaders to literary figures and modern entertainers.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Shawn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shawn, please contact us.

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