Sean

Sean is a masculine given name of Irish origin. It is the Irish form of John, which itself derives from the Latin Ioannes, ultimately from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning “God is gracious.” In English, Sean is commonly pronounced like “shawn.” The standard Irish spelling is Seán, while anglicized variants include Sean, Shaun, and Shaan.

Sean has been widely used in Ireland and among Irish communities abroad, particularly in the United States and Canada. The spelling Shaun or Shaan is common in English-speaking countries, and Seán remains the preferred form among Irish speakers and those familiar with Irish language conventions.

Notable people named Sean include Sean Connery, a Scottish actor and first to portray James Bond; Sean Penn, an American actor and filmmaker; Sean Bean, an English actor; Sean Combs, an American rapper and businessman; Sean Parker, an American entrepreneur; and Sean Astin, an American actor. Other well-known Seans are Sean Kingston, a Jamaican-American singer; Sean Lennon, a musician; and Sean Hayes, an American actor.

Variants and related names include Shaun and Shaan, as well as Seán in Irish-language contexts. While Sean is primarily a given name, it can appear as a surname in rare cases. The name remains common in English-speaking countries and is associated with a concise, familiar sound.