How Many People Are Named Shaun?

Complete statistics for the name Shaun: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Shaun
Rare
Irish

Shaun has a classic yet modern feel. About 68,275 people in the U.S. are named Shaun, which makes it pretty rare, just 1 in 4,833 Americans. It peaked in 1978 with over 6,000 births.

~68,275
Living in US
1 in 4,833
Americans
1978
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
God is gracious
🌐
Origin
Irish
🌟
Lucky Day
Thursday
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 9
Personality Traits
Loyal Calm Dependable Grounded
9
Life Path Number

Life path number 9 is traditionally associated with compassion, wisdom, and a humanitarian outlook. People with this number are said to be old souls who feel a strong pull toward helping others and leaving the world better than they found it.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

68,275
Worldwide Bearers
#4,393
Global Rank
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
1,748
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
1,002
🇮🇪 Ireland
978
🇹🇭 Thailand
944
🇵🇭 Philippines
874
🇮🇳 India
547
🇸🇬 Singapore
534
🇲🇾 Malaysia
510
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
503
🇯🇲 Jamaica
458

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
65,386 (96%)
♀ Female
2,890 (4%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 42
13,172
Would be under 30 (18%)
55,344
Would be 30–60 (75%)
5,011
Would be over 60 (7%)

All 73,527 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1978

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
50
Modern Appeal
50
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Shaun Through the Generations

Shaun's journey through American demographics is quite intriguing. With only 68,275 people currently living with the name, despite 73,527 total births, it's clear that many have passed away. The name peaked in 1978, when there were 6,221 births, indicating a strong preference for the name during that era. Today, the majority of people named Shaun are aged 30-60, making up 75% of the total population, with a smaller but growing segment over 60. This suggests a steady decline in new births since its peak, while those born in the heyday of the name are aging. The fact that Shaun hasn't been in the top 10 names for decades adds to its unique character, making it a name that stands out in the crowd.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 7,690
New York 5,266
Ohio 3,669
Texas 3,622
Pennsylvania 3,458
Illinois 3,363
Florida 3,004
Michigan 2,966
Massachusetts 2,713
New Jersey 2,279

✨ Similar Names to Shaun

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Shaun's Irish roots

📄 About the Name Shaun

How Many People Have the Name Shaun?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 68,275 people in the United States currently share the name Shaun. That works out to roughly 1 in every 4,833 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Shaun a Common or Rare Name?

Shaun is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Shaun Mean?

Shaun means "God is gracious" and comes from Irish origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Shaun in SSA data, approximately 96% are male and 4% are female.

When Was Shaun Most Popular?

The name Shaun reached peak popularity in 1978, with 6,221 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Shaun?

Approximately 68,275 people named Shaun live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 73,527. That works out to roughly 1 in 4,833 Americans.

Is Shaun a rare name?

Shaun is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 4,833 Americans has this name.

What does the name Shaun mean?

Shaun means "God is gracious" and comes from Irish origins.

Is Shaun more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 96% of people named Shaun are male and 4% are female.

When was Shaun most popular?

Shaun peaked in 1978 with 6,221 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US68,275
All-Time Births73,527
1 in X1 in 4,833
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age42
Peak Year1978
World Rank#4,393
Male %96%
Female %4%

Check the statistics for any first or last name

Search Names
Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.