Sean
Sean is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
Sean is an Irish Gaelic name derived from Seán, which is the Irish form of John. Although overwhelmingly used for males in the United States, it has been given as a female name to nearly 3,000 girls since 1880. Its female usage peaked in the late 20th century and remains rare today.
Popularity in the United States
2,969 babies in the United States have been named Sean since 1880. It ranks #3253 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2078.
States where it is most popular
- CA (42.1 %)
- NY (19.9 %)
- PA (8.7 %)
- IL (6.7 %)
- OH (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 5 |
| 1940-1950 | 17 |
| 1950-1960 | 137 |
| 1960-1970 | 463 |
| 1970-1980 | 588 |
| 1980-1990 | 810 |
| 1990-2000 | 587 |
| 2000-2010 | 273 |
| 2010-2019 | 66 |
| 2020-2029 | 23 |
Famous people named Sean
- Sean Young: Actress
Fun facts
- The name entered Gaelic as Seán following the Norman conquest of Ireland, adapting the Anglo-Norman name Jean.
- While typically masculine, Sean experienced a surge of feminine usage in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s.