Name meaning & stats
Sean
Sean means “God is gracious” (Irish origin). 426,488 US babies since 1940, peak 1990. Notable Seans are 1.4× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
“God is gracious”
IrishWell documented
The Irish form of John.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1990
426,488 US babies were named Sean between 1940 and 2025.
Where Seans end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.4× | High · 122 people |
| Actor | 1.4× | High · 105 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.0× | High · 79 people |
| Basketball player | 1.1× | High · 71 people |
Among notable men who are footballers, Seans show up 1.4× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Sean has a surprise career: 1.7×
Spelling family
Sean is the main spelling
- Sean 100%
- Seann <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1990)