Shaun

Shaun is a masculine given name, a spelling variant of Sean and Shawn. It derives from the Irish Seán, the Irish form of John, which ultimately comes from the Latin Ioannes, meaning “God is gracious.” The forms Sean and Seán are common in Ireland, while Shaun and Shawn are widely used in English-speaking countries. The name is found in several spellings, including Shaune and Shaquille-like variants, though Shaun remains a distinct, recognizable form.

Usage and cultural presence: Shaun is used across English-speaking regions and has been particularly popular in the United States and the United Kingdom since the late 20th century. It is typically given to males, though naming patterns can vary by culture and era. The name appears in various cultural works and media, contributing to its recognizability.

Notable people: Notable individuals named Shaun include Shaun White, an American professional snowboarder and skateboarder and Olympic gold medalist; Shaun Livingston, an American professional basketball player; Shaun King, an American writer and civil rights advocate; Shaun T, an American fitness trainer and choreographer; and Shaun Ryder, an English singer and musician with the Happy Mondays. These figures represent a range of fields, reflecting the name’s broad usage.

Fiction and popular culture: Shaun appears as a given name for fictional characters and is also associated with Shaun the Sheep, a stop-motion animated character created by Aardman Animations, who stars in a television series and related media.

See also: Sean (given name).