Name meaning & stats
Shaun
Shaun means “God is gracious” (Irish origin). 73,547 US babies since 1940, peak 1978. Notable Shauns are 3.3× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
“God is gracious”
IrishForm of Sean
In US birth records
Peak year: 1978
73,547 US babies were named Shaun between 1940 and 2025.
Where Shauns end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 3.3× | High · 74 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.3× | High · 25 people |
| Actor | 1.3× | Medium · 23 people |
| Basketball player | 1.0× | Medium · 16 people |
Among notable men who are footballers, Shauns show up 3.3× 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.
Spelling family
Shaun is the main spelling
- Shaun 99%
- Shaune 1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1978)