Sean vs. Shawn: which name is older?
The average Sean is 38 and the average Shawn is 45, so Shawn is the older name, by about 7 years.
Sean
Shawn
When was each name popular?
Shawn peaked first, in 1971 (in the early 1970s). Sean peaked in 1990, 19 years later.
Which name is more common?
There are about 400,000 Seans and about 310,000 Shawns alive in the US, so there are about 29% more Seans than Shawns.
Boys or girls?
Both are boys' names: over 99% of living Seans and 90% of living Shawns are men.
Names the same age as Sean
Names the same age as Shawn
Think you can guess a Sean's age?
Ten names, one slider each. Share your score.
Sean or Shawn: questions
Which is older, Sean or Shawn?
The average Sean is 38 and the average Shawn is 45, so Shawn is the older name, by about 7 years.
How old is the average Sean?
The average Sean in the US is 38; half of all living Seans are between 28 and 50.
How old is the average Shawn?
The average Shawn in the US is 45; half of all living Shawns are between 36 and 55.
Which is more common, Sean or Shawn?
There are about 400,000 Seans and about 310,000 Shawns alive in the US, so there are about 29% more Seans than Shawns.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). How we calculate this