Shawn Boy

Popularity: #576 · 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 Shawn is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Seán, which is a variant of the name John. The etymology can be traced back to the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." This name passed into Greek as Ioannes, then into Latin as Johannes, and subsequently into Old French as Johan before evolving into its modern forms in English, including Shawn.

The introduction of the name into English-speaking contexts occurred primarily through the influence of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which brought many Old French names into the English lexicon. Historically, the name John has been borne by numerous significant figures, including biblical characters such as John the Baptist and John the Apostle, as well as various saints throughout the centuries.

The name's prominence was further solidified by its use among English royalty and notable historical figures, including King John of England in the 13th century. The name Shawn, as a distinct form, gained traction in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, as a phonetic variant that reflects a trend towards more unique spellings of traditional names.

Culturally, the name Shawn has resonated within Irish heritage and is often associated with qualities of strength and grace, reflecting its roots in the meaning of John. The name has also been embraced in various forms of media and literature, contributing to its enduring presence.

Diminutive forms such as Sean and Johnny have also been historically relevant, showcasing the name's versatility across different cultures and languages. Overall, Shawn embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance.

Famous people named Shawn

In this section, you will find notable people named Shawn. 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 Shawn who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Shawn 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.

Shawn Mendes is a singer and songwriter best known for Stitches, Treat You Better, and Señorita.

Shawn Ashmore is an actor best known for his roles in X-Men, The Following, and The Ruins.

Shawn Wayans is an actor and comedian best known for In Living Color, Scary Movie, and White Chicks.

Shawn Johnson is a retired gymnast best known for her performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Dancing with the Stars.

Shawn Levy is a director and producer best known for Night at the Museum, Free Guy, and Stranger Things.

Shawn Marion is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the Phoenix Suns and winning an NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks.

Shawn Colvin is a singer-songwriter best known for her albums Steady On, A Few Small Repairs, and her hit song Sunny Came Home.

Shawn Michaels is a retired professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE and being a two-time Hall of Famer.

Shawn Fanning is an entrepreneur best known for co-founding Napster, the pioneering music-sharing service.

Shawn T. is a fitness trainer best known for his workout programs Insanity and Focus T25.

Fictional characters named Shawn

The following list of fictional characters named Shawn 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.

Shawn Spencer is a fictional character from the TV series Psych. He is a fake psychic detective who solves crimes with his keen observational skills and a knack for humor.

Shawn Hunter is a fictional character from the TV series Boy Meets World. He is the best friend of the main character, Cory Matthews, and navigates the challenges of adolescence alongside him.

Sibling suggestions

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

RyanBrandonKyleDylanTylerLogan

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Shawn. 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.

ShaneSeanShaunShayShilohSethSimonSoren

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Shawn was first seen in the United States in 1931.

Shawn has ranked as high as #42 nationally, which occurred in 1971, and has been most popular in California, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Texas.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Shawn 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 Shawn 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 Shawn.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 412 399 13
2024 455 440 15
2023 446 438 8
2022 537 523 14
2021 593 587 6
2020 670 659 11
2019 735 723 12
2018 831 814 17
2017 844 830 14
2016 959 946 13
2015 970 962 8
2014 1,083 1,068 15
2013 1,137 1,122 15
2012 1,322 1,301 21
2011 1,443 1,431 12
2010 1,495 1,476 19
2009 1,840 1,809 31
2008 2,100 2,067 33
2007 2,376 2,349 27
2006 2,494 2,476 18
2005 2,404 2,372 32
2004 2,448 2,409 39
2003 2,606 2,576 30
2002 2,646 2,618 28
2001 2,671 2,628 43
2000 2,958 2,894 64
1999 3,145 3,100 45
1998 3,321 3,257 64
1997 3,528 3,449 79
1996 3,579 3,505 74
1995 3,920 3,824 96
1994 4,352 4,245 107
1993 4,930 4,814 116
1992 5,296 5,153 143
1991 5,583 5,415 168
1990 5,892 5,721 171
1989 5,631 5,479 152
1988 6,087 5,893 194
1987 6,403 6,202 201
1986 7,270 7,018 252
1985 7,303 6,982 321
1984 6,317 6,049 268
1983 6,638 6,359 279
1982 7,153 6,842 311
1981 7,414 7,076 338
1980 8,086 7,698 388
1979 8,371 7,910 461
1978 9,823 9,289 534
1977 10,532 9,865 667
1976 10,880 10,108 772
1975 11,645 10,682 963
1974 12,709 11,438 1,271
1973 12,736 11,451 1,285
1972 12,852 11,277 1,575
1971 14,688 12,825 1,863
1970 12,916 10,945 1,971
1969 10,090 8,267 1,823
1968 9,229 7,478 1,751
1967 7,735 6,138 1,597
1966 7,217 5,725 1,492
1965 6,373 4,924 1,449
1964 5,805 4,403 1,402
1963 4,477 3,461 1,016
1962 3,768 2,866 902
1961 3,388 2,488 900
1960 2,800 2,045 755
1959 2,743 1,976 767
1958 1,930 1,183 747
1957 1,607 910 697
1956 1,116 569 547
1955 944 548 396
1954 739 429 310
1953 515 343 172
1952 309 189 120
1951 261 138 123
1950 292 175 117
1949 194 132 62
1948 226 143 83
1947 96 57 39
1946 43 22 21
1945 25 17 8
1944 23 13 10
1943 39 27 12
1942 28 19 9
1941 24 16 8
1940 22 13 9
1939 18 11 7
1938 15 10 5
1937 8 8 0
1936 12 5 7
1932 5 0 5
1931 6 6 0

Top States for Shawn (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 43
11%
CA 38
10%
NY 30
8%
FL 28
7%
PA 22
6%
NC 18
5%
MD 18
5%
IL 17
4%
GA 16
4%
NJ 15
4%
VA 15
4%
IN 12
3%
OH 11
3%
MI 10
3%
KY 10
3%
LA 10
3%
MO 9
2%
AZ 9
2%
SC 8
2%
TN 8
2%
WA 8
2%
IA 7
2%
MN 7
2%
MS 7
2%
OK 7
2%
UT 6
2%
MA 6
2%
WI 5
1%