Shawn is a name of Irish origin, derived from the Irish surname "Séathán." The name Séathán is thought to have originated from an ancient Irish personal name meaning "little old man" or "wise little old man." However, when used as a given name rather than a surname, Shawn often takes on a different meaning and is associated with the English word "shaun," which means "to rise bright and early."
The name Shawn gained significant popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century. It first entered the top 1000 names list for boys in the U.S. in the year 1945, and by the late 1960s, it had become a popular choice among parents, peaking at its highest rank of number 78 in 1972.
Over time, Shawn has also been used as a unisex name, with some people choosing to use it for girls rather than boys. However, despite this variance in usage, the name remains strongly associated with males and is often considered primarily masculine.
Shawn has no specific patron saint or day of celebration associated with it. As such, there are no traditional feast days or celebrations tied to the name itself. Instead, those named Shawn typically celebrate their birthdays on whatever date they were born, although some may choose to honor Saint Seathan, a lesser-known Irish saint whose name is similar to Shawn's origins.
In terms of history and notable individuals, several famous people share the name Shawn. Some well-known examples include American actor and musician Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter; Canadian professional wrestler Shawn Michaels; and American basketball player Shawn Bradley. However, these individuals are not directly connected to the origin or meaning of the name itself but rather have contributed to its contemporary popularity and recognition.
Overall, Shawn is a unique Irish-derived name with an interesting etymology that has gained significant popularity in recent decades, particularly in the United States. Although it has no specific feast day or patron saint associated with it, the name carries historical significance through its connection to ancient Irish personal names and has been embraced by notable individuals across various fields of endeavor.
The name Shawn experienced significant popularity from the mid-20th century onwards, peaking in the late 1960s to early 1970s with over 1700 births per year during those periods. After reaching its zenith in 1970 with 1971 births, popularity steadily declined throughout the subsequent decades, dropping below 200 births per year by the late 1980s and continuing to decrease into the single digits in recent years, with only 5 births recorded in 2021. Overall, there have been a total of 33025 births named Shawn from 1932 to 2023.