Seán
the Irish form of John, via Norman-French Jehan
The s before an e is sh, and the fada makes the a long: SHAWN. It is the same name as John.
- s before e or i → sh
- á é í ó ú (the fada) → a long vowel — and never optional
Ireland's commonest man's name for centuries, and proof of how thoroughly the Normans were absorbed: their Jehan became Seán, then produced Shane in Ulster and Shaun and Shawn wherever the Irish went. Seán Lemass and Seán O'Casey between them span the state's politics and its theatre.
- Seán MacBride (1904–1988) — Irish politician and human rights activist
- Sean Kelly (born 1956) — Irish former professional road bicycle racer
- Seán Lemass (1899–1971) — Irish politician
- Seán Mac Diarmada (1883–1916) — Irish revolutionary
- Sean Dunphy (1937–2011) — Irish singer
Irish people with an English Wikipedia article whose given name is recorded as Seán on Wikidata; descriptions from Wikidata.
Meanings follow Ó Corráin & Maguire's Irish Names and Woulfe; pronunciations give the commonest Irish-English form. Know this name better — a dialect pronunciation, a family tradition? Tell us. · All Irish names A–Z