![]() The popularity of actor Sean Connery increased use of the name in the Anglosphere. | |
Pronunciation | English: /ˈʃɔːn/ SHAWN Irish: [ʃaːn̪ˠ, ʃeːn̪ˠ] |
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Gender | Male |
Language(s) | Irish language |
Other gender | |
Feminine | Shawna, Shauna, Seána, Shona, Seanna, Siobhán, Sinéad |
Origin | |
Region of origin | Irish cognate of John (Hebrew origin) |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Seaghán, Seón, Shaun, Shawn, Seann, Seaghán, Seathan, Shaine, Shayne, Shane, Shon, Shan |
Related names | Eoin, 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.