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Shawn

Boy / Girl name · 175 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Shawn: 175 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 14 births in 1998.

Shawn is primarily an anglicized form of the Irish name Seán, itself derived from the French Jean, ultimately coming from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." This phonetic rendering emerged in the 20th century as a distinctly modern alternative to the traditional spelling. Famous bearers include the acclaimed American actor and director Shawn Levy, known for producing *Stranger Things*, and Shawn Mendes, the chart-topping Canadian singer-songwriter. The name shares its root with the Scottish city of Glasgow, which originates from the Gaelic *Glaschu*, thought to mean "green hollow"—a different etymological path entirely. While Shaun and Sean remain common variants in Scotland, Shawn offers a stylish, slightly more international spelling with the same classic meaning.