The story behind Sean
Anglicised form of Irish Seán, from Old French Jehan, from Latin Johannes, variant of Ioannes, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yōḥānān, literally “God is gracious”). Doublet of John, Jack, Johan, Johann, Johannes, Jean, Ian, Evan, Ivan, Shaun, Shane, and Giovanni.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Sean, from Irish Seán.
Pronunciation
Received-Pronunciation: /ʃɔːn/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Australia, British, New-Zealand, Southern, Standard: /ʃoːn/
- without the cot–caught merger: /ʃɔn/
- cot-caught-merger: /ʃɑn/
- Scotland: /ʃɔn/
- Ireland: /ʃɒːn/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈʃan/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈʃan̪]
- Tagalog: /ˈsjan/
- Tagalog: [ˈsjan̪]
Popularity
Sean ranked #12971 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Sean
Shaun
A variant of Sean, from Irish Seán, from Old French Jehan, from Latin Johannes, variant of Ioannes, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yōḥānān, literally…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Shawn
Borrowed from English Shawn, from English Sean, in turn from Irish Seán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ann
From Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna the Prophetess, from Koine…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Finn
An Old and Middle Irish form of Fionn.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ian
Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic Eòin. Unadapted borrowing from English Ian. Doublet of João, Ivan, Jean, Ruan, and Geovane. Borrowed from English Ian, from Scottish Gaelic…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jean
Variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Old French Jehane, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Sean
Ava
A female given name from Hebrew, a variant of Eva.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ivy
From ivy, the name of a plant. An ivy branch used to be hung outside an establishment to advertise that it sold alcohol, so it may originally been an occupationational surname…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Una
Anglicized form of Irish Úna. Doublet of Oona.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Sean
Alma
Usually explained as Latin alma (“nourishing, kind”). It has also been used as a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element Amal-, as in Amelia. From…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Aria
As a 21st century English name from TV and fantasy fiction, explained as "a musical aria". Similar sounding names exist in many languages, e.g. Ariah and Arie from Hebrew, Arya…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Ava
A female given name from Hebrew, a variant of Eva.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection