# Sean

/ˈʃɔn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sean
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a male name

noun · CEFR A1

a popular name for a man or boy, originally from Ireland.

For teachers: A masculine given name of Irish origin; the Irish equivalent of John.

- My friend Sean is moving to Dublin next month to start a new job.
- The name Sean remains a perennial favourite in Ireland and among the global Irish diaspora, often appearing in various anglicised spellings.

## Examples

- My friend Sean is coming to the party tonight.
- After moving from Dublin to London, Sean found that many people initially struggled with the spelling of his name.
- The historical prevalence of the name Sean in Irish literature reflects its deep roots in the cultural identity of the nation across several centuries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.