Boy · Irish (from Hebrew) · Christian
Sean
SeanSay it SHAWN
- Meaning today
- God is gracious
- Original meaning
- "Jehovah-favoured (Hebrew Yehochanan, John)" Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, H3076
- Say it
- SHAWN
- Other spellings
- Shaun, Shawn, Shon
Sean
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Sean meaning
Sean is a Christian boy's name of Irish origin (from Hebrew).
Jehovah-favoured (Hebrew Yehochanan, John)
Also used to mean: God is gracious
Sean is the English spelling of Irish Seán, which came from Jehan, the Norman French form of John. John goes back through Greek Ioannes to Hebrew Yehochanan, which Strong's Concordance builds from the name of God and chanan, 'to show favour', rendering it 'Jehovah-favored'; name lists give 'God is gracious'. A well-known bearer was the actor Sean Connery. In India it is used by Christian families as a form of John, and Shaun and Shawn are other spellings.
Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, H3076 · entry Yhowchanan · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Strong's H3076, Yehochanan (Bible Hub) · Strong's G2491, Ioannes (Bible Hub) · Wikipedia, Seán
Famous namesakes
- Sean Connery, Scottish actor
Popularity abroad
- #489 United States, boys 2025 (down 54 from 435 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #615 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Sean · Shaun · Shawn · Shon