Sean

Seán
The popularity of actor Sean Connery increased use of the name in the Anglosphere.
PronunciationEnglish: /ˈʃɔːn/ SHAWN
Irish: [ʃaːn̪ˠ, ʃeːn̪ˠ]
GenderMale
Language(s)Irish language
Other gender
FeminineShawna, Shauna, Seána, Shona, Seanna, Siobhán, Sinéad
Origin
Region of originIrish cognate of John (Hebrew origin)
Other names
Variant form(s)Seaghán, Seón, Shaun, Shawn, Seann, Seaghán, Seathan, Shaine, Shayne, Shane, Shon, Shan
Related namesEoin, John

Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Hiberno-English,[1][2] is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name Yohanan (יוֹחָנָן‎), Seán (anglicized as Shaun/Shawn/Shon) and Séan (Ulster variant;[3] anglicized Shane/Shayne), rendered John in English and Johannes/Johann/Johan in other Germanic languages. The Norman French Jehan (see Jean) is another version.

In the Irish language, the presence and placement of the síneadh fada is significant, as it changes the meaning of the name.[1] The word "Sean" in Irish means "old", while the word "Séan" means "omen".[4]

For notable people named Sean, refer to List of people named Sean.

  1. ^ a b Caollaí, Éanna Ó. "If your name is Timothy or Pat you're grand, but if it's Seán or Róisín you don't exist". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  2. ^ Ó Séaghdha, Darach (3 March 2022). "The Irish For: The rise of Rían - the latest baby names in Ireland". thejournal.ie. The Journal. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Meaning of Sean - What does the Name Sean mean?". Babynamesocean.com. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
  4. ^ "Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla (Ó Dónaill): séan". Teanglann. Teanglann.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2024.