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Keyshawn

♂ Boy

Pronounced kee-SHAWN /kiːˈʃɔːn/High

Meaning: A modern American compound combining an initial Key- element with Shawn, the Irish anglicization of Sean (from Hebrew John meaning God is gracious), creating a distinctive name with an implied meaning of God is graciousMedium

In 30 seconds: Keyshawn is a modern American compound of Key and Shawn, carrying the Hebrew meaning God is gracious through its Shawn element, and made famous by NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
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Origin MediumAmerican English, Hebrew
MeaningA modern American compound combining an initial Key- element with Shawn, the Irish anglicization of Sean (from Hebrew John meaning God is gracious), creating a distinctive name with an implied meaning of God is gracious
U.S. rank (2024)#3068 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births40 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,027

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200019832024

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

History & Origin

Keyshawn is a modern American coined name pairing the prefix Key- (likely for its strong K sound and musical associations) with Shawn, the anglicized Irish form of the Hebrew name John (Sean → Shawn), meaning God is gracious. This type of prefix-plus-name construction became popular in African American naming traditions from the 1970s onward.

The name gained significant visibility through Keyshawn Johnson, the outspoken NFL wide receiver drafted first overall in 1996, whose book title Just Give Me the Damn Ball! became a cultural catchphrase. His success and personality made Keyshawn a recognizable and aspirational name for sports-minded families in the late 1990s and 2000s.

Did you know? Keyshawn Johnson was the first overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, and his high-profile career — including a Super Bowl win with Tampa Bay — put this creative name on the cultural map for a generation of American parents.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name — Shawn/Sean — Hebrew John etymology carried in the Shawn elementU.S. Social Security Administration Baby Names — birth record frequency for Keyshawn

Variations

KishawnKeyshonKeeshawnKeshawn

Nicknames

KeyShawn

Famous Bearers

  • ★Keyshawn Johnson (1972–present)
    American NFL wide receiver, the first overall pick of the 1996 NFL Draft, who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and later became a sports broadcaster.

If you like Keyshawn…

Deshawn— same Shawn base with a different prefix in the same naming tradition
Leshawn— shares the -shawn suffix and modern American prefix-compound pattern
Reshawn— fellow Re-+Shawn construction in the same creative naming style
Devontae— same African American creative compound naming tradition

Frequently Asked

What does the name Keyshawn mean?

Keyshawn carries the meaning God is gracious through its Shawn element, which comes from the Irish Sean and ultimately from the Hebrew John (Yochanan).

How do you pronounce Keyshawn?

It is pronounced kee-SHAWN, two syllables with stress on the second.

Is Keyshawn a boy or girl name?

Keyshawn is used exclusively as a boys name.

How popular is Keyshawn?

Keyshawn rose to prominence in the late 1990s largely due to NFL player Keyshawn Johnson and has remained a recognizable if uncommon name in the United States.