Is Shaun a boy's or girl's name?

Shaun is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 3,129 recorded births.

When was Shaun most popular?

Shaun reached its peak popularity in 1978 with 6,105 births that year. It is currently ranked #1573 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Shaun?

Shaun is currently ranked #1573 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 70,398 babies since 1935.

Shaun

A Irish name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsIrishDeclining Also a pet name

#1573▼ 74in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Irish.

Shaun is a boy's and girl's baby name of Irish origin, the anglicized form of Seán, the Irish equivalent of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' It is one of several anglicized spellings of this Irish classic, alongside Sean and Shawn.

Shaun carries the same warm, reliable energy as its variants while the -aun spelling gives it a slightly softer look. It was most popular in the United States and United Kingdom from the 1960s through the 1980s, consistently favored within Irish-American families.

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Popularity Over Time

Shaun was #398 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1573, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Shaun
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	672	#1395	▼
2010s	3,215	#775	▼
2000s	7,010	#398	▼
1990s	8,620	#322	▼
1980s	24,470	#127	▲
1970s	19,320	#198	▲
1960s	5,559	#347	▲
1950s	1,239	#768	▲
1940s	230	#1625	▲
1930s	63	#2261	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(90 years, 1935–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Shaun
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	110	#1573	-9 (-7.6%)
2023	119	#1499	-3 (-2.5%)
2022	122	#1488	-27 (-18.1%)
2021	149	#1279	-23 (-13.4%)
2020	172	#1138	-21 (-10.9%)
2019	193	#1062	-12 (-5.9%)
2018	205	#1011	-37 (-15.3%)
2017	242	#891	-8 (-3.2%)
2016	250	#877	-61 (-19.6%)
2015	311	#768	-13 (-4.0%)
2014	324	#738	-6 (-1.8%)
2013	330	#714	-61 (-15.6%)
2012	391	#622	-37 (-8.6%)
2011	428	#586	-113 (-20.9%)
2010	541	#483	-13 (-2.3%)
2009	554	#495	-118 (-17.6%)
2008	672	#432	-98 (-12.7%)
2007	770	#393	-135 (-14.9%)
2006	905	#342	+183 (25.3%)
2005	722	#397	+62 (9.4%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Shaun as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Shaun has also been given to 3,129 girls in the U.S. since 1945.

Unranked

Current rank

3,129

Total births

1970

Peak year

Compare Shaun as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Shaun be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Shaun is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1573. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Shaun has two lives

Shaun, the baby name

#1573boys

70,398 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1935–2024) · Methodology