Shaun Boy

Popularity: #859 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHAWN /ʃɔːn/

Origin: Irish; Hebrew

Meaning: Irish: God is gracious; Hebrew: gift from God

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Shaun is derived from the Irish form of the name John, which itself originates from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." The evolution of the name can be traced through several linguistic stages: from Hebrew to Greek (Ioannes), then to Latin (Iohannes), followed by Old French (Jean), and finally to the Irish Sean, which was anglicized as Shaun. This anglicization reflects the broader trend of adapting Gaelic names into English forms, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries when Irish names became more widely recognized in English-speaking contexts.

Historically, the name John has significant biblical roots, being borne by numerous important figures, including John the Baptist and John the Apostle. The name has been popular across various cultures and languages, with its variants appearing in many forms throughout history.

The King James Bible, published in 1611, contributed to the name's prominence in English-speaking countries, as it included several references to the apostles and other biblical figures named John. The Irish version, Sean, has been used since at least the Middle Ages, and its anglicized form, Shaun, began to gain traction in the 20th century.

Culturally, Shaun carries connotations of grace and favor, reflective of its original meaning. The name has been associated with various saints, most notably Saint John, who is revered in Christianity.

This religious significance has contributed to the name's endurance over centuries. Additionally, the diminutive form "Shawn" has also emerged, further illustrating the name's adaptability and cultural resonance.

Overall, Shaun embodies a rich historical and linguistic heritage that connects it to both religious tradition and cultural identity.

Famous people named Shaun

In this section, you will find notable people named Shaun. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Shaun who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Shaun who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Shaun White is a professional snowboarder and skateboarder best known for winning three Olympic gold medals and his X Games achievements.

Shaun T is a fitness trainer and choreographer best known for his workout programs Insanity and T25.

Shaun Evans is an actor best known for his role in the television series Endeavour.

Shaun Ryder is a musician and songwriter best known for being the lead vocalist of the bands Happy Mondays and Black Grape.

Shaun Cassidy is a singer, actor, and television producer best known for his hit songs in the 1970s and for starring in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Shaun McRae is a rugby league footballer best known for playing with the Newcastle Knights and the Western Suburbs Magpies.

Shaun King is a civil rights activist and writer best known for his work in social justice and racial equality advocacy.

Fictional characters named Shaun

The following list of fictional characters named Shaun is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Shaun is a fictional character from the film Shaun of the Dead. He is an everyman who tries to win back his girlfriend while navigating a zombie apocalypse.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shaun, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

ShaneShayShilohSethSullivanSoren

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Shaun. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

SeanShawnShaneShayShilohSimeonSimonSullivan

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Shaun was first seen in the United States in 1935.

Shaun has ranked as high as #90 nationally, which occurred in 1978, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Shaun has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Shaun is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Shaun was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Shaun.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 79 79 0
2024 111 111 0
2023 120 120 0
2022 128 122 6
2021 158 149 9
2020 172 172 0
2019 193 193 0
2018 212 206 6
2017 251 243 8
2016 250 250 0
2015 316 311 5
2014 325 325 0
2013 336 331 5
2012 397 391 6
2011 434 428 6
2010 554 541 13
2009 565 554 11
2008 683 672 11
2007 786 770 16
2006 912 905 7
2005 736 722 14
2004 679 660 19
2003 699 687 12
2002 652 635 17
2001 666 654 12
2000 769 751 18
1999 710 687 23
1998 714 692 22
1997 650 630 20
1996 667 646 21
1995 738 710 28
1994 808 779 29
1993 979 948 31
1992 1,020 988 32
1991 1,215 1,187 28
1990 1,389 1,354 35
1989 1,415 1,388 27
1988 1,689 1,657 32
1987 1,854 1,828 26
1986 2,108 2,066 42
1985 2,403 2,354 49
1984 2,301 2,251 50
1983 2,508 2,466 42
1982 3,210 3,154 56
1981 3,457 3,383 74
1980 3,996 3,923 73
1979 4,843 4,736 107
1978 6,221 6,105 116
1977 2,671 2,578 93
1976 668 625 43
1975 746 699 47
1974 857 802 55
1973 802 749 53
1972 1,011 948 63
1971 1,172 1,086 86
1970 1,127 989 138
1969 974 880 94
1968 949 851 98
1967 832 724 108
1966 712 585 127
1965 664 555 109
1964 695 574 121
1963 577 478 99
1962 457 387 70
1961 356 287 69
1960 289 238 51
1959 350 270 80
1958 239 189 50
1957 262 207 55
1956 194 142 52
1955 179 117 62
1954 136 101 35
1953 102 73 29
1952 68 46 22
1951 51 36 15
1950 74 58 16
1949 45 32 13
1948 30 30 0
1947 33 33 0
1946 43 37 6
1945 21 15 6
1944 21 21 0
1943 21 21 0
1942 17 17 0
1941 14 14 0
1940 10 10 0
1939 20 20 0
1938 8 8 0
1937 13 13 0
1936 14 14 0
1935 8 8 0

Top States for Shaun (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 10
20%
CA 9
18%
PA 8
16%
FL 7
14%
MO 5
10%
UT 5
10%
NJ 5
10%