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Keshawn

♂ Boy

Pronounced kuh-SHAWN /kəˈʃɔːn/High

Meaning: God is gracious; a modern compound of Ke- (a prefix) + Shawn (the Irish/English form of Sean/John: God is gracious)High

In 30 seconds: A modern American compound of Ke- and Shawn, carrying Shawn's meaning of 'God is gracious' (from Hebrew Yohanan via Irish Sean). Popular in African American communities as a distinctive extension of the classic Shawn.

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Origin HighEnglish, Hebrew

MeaningGod is gracious; a modern compound of Ke- (a prefix) + Shawn (the Irish/English form of Sean/John: God is gracious)

U.S. rank (2025)#3020 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births41 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2000

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,029

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Keshawn combines Ke- (a common American name prefix creating distinctiveness) with Shawn (the American spelling of Irish Sean, from Hebrew Yohanan: God is gracious). This pattern of Ke- prefixing is common in African American naming from the 1970s onward.

Keshawn has been used in African American communities since the 1980s. Its 2024 ranking of #2404 reflects modest but persistent use.

Did you know? Shawn/Sean — the name's second element — traveled from Hebrew Yohanan through Latin Johannes, French Jean, Irish Sean to English Shawn. When American naming added the Ke- prefix, it created a distinctively American name that still carries 3,000 years of Hebrew heritage.

Overall data confidence 85%

U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KishawnKeshon

Nicknames

KeShawn

Famous Bearers

★Ke'Shawn Vaughn (1997-)
American NFL running back and Super Bowl LV champion

If you like Keshawn…

Deshawn— De- + Shawn compound in the same De-prefix tradition

Javon— two-syllable Ja- compound in the same African American naming tradition

Demarcus— De- prefix compound in the same American naming community

Keyshawn— echoes that soft -wn sound

Rashawn— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Keshawn

By themeenglish hebrew two-syllable african-american

By meaningGod / Divine Grace

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Keshawn mean?

Keshawn means 'God is gracious,' combining Ke- with Shawn (Irish/English form of Hebrew Yohanan: God is gracious).

How do you pronounce Keshawn?

It's said kuh-SHAWN /kəˈʃɔːn/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Keshawn a boy or girl name?

Keshawn is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Keshawn?

Keshawn ranked #2404 for U.S. boys in 2024.