name
Common
Sean
shawn
Sean (name) means a male given name of Irish origin, equivalent to "John.". Example: “Sean moved to Dublin to study law.”
name
1
A male given name of Irish origin, equivalent to "John."
"But if you really insist she'll retell the unfortunate case of a man named Sean Doyle."
— Brenna Cooper, Medical examiner reveals worst death she has seen is the case of man who was thrown down a manhole into boiling water (2025)
"Sean moved to Dublin to study law."
How to use Sean
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common Irish first name equivalent to John; related names include Shane, Ian, and Evan.
Easily confused with
shawn
shaun →
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Word forms
- Plural
- Seans
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_____ moved to Dublin to study law.
Etymology
Anglicised form of Irish Seán, ultimately from Latin Johannes ("John"), the same root shared by Ian, Ivan, Shane, and Giovanni.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Sean
See all rhymes for Sean →Frequently asked questions
What does “Sean” mean?
The word “Sean” means a male given name of Irish origin, equivalent to "John.". In plain terms, a common Irish first name equivalent to John; related names include Shane, Ian, and Evan.
How do you pronounce “Sean”?
“Sean” is pronounced shawn (/ʃɔːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “Sean” in a sentence?
Here is “Sean” used in a sentence: “Sean moved to Dublin to study law.”
What part of speech is “Sean”?
“Sean” is a name.
Where does the word “Sean” come from?
The word “Sean” comes from Latin. Anglicised form of Irish Seán, ultimately from Latin Johannes ("John"), the same root shared by Ian, Ivan, Shane, and Giovanni.
Is “Sean” a common word?
“Sean” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between the names 'Sean' and 'Shawn'?
They are the same name pronounced the same way. 'Sean' is the traditional Irish spelling, while 'Shawn' and 'Shaun' are anglicised spellings that reflect the sound more directly for English readers.
What is the difference between 'Sean' and 'John'?
'Sean' is the Irish form of the name 'John,' so the two share the same origin and meaning. Where English speakers use John, Irish tradition uses Sean.
What is the difference between 'Sean' and 'Seán'?
'Seán' with the accent, called a fada, is the original Irish spelling. 'Sean' without the accent is the common form used in English, where the fada is usually dropped.
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