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Seamus
♂ Boy
Pronounced SHAY-mus /ˈʃeɪ.məs/Low
Meaning: He who supplants, grips the heelLow
In 30 seconds: Seamus is the Irish Gaelic form of James, which is itself the English form of Jacob meaning he who supplants. One of the most authentically Irish names, it carries both biblical heritage and Celtic character.
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Origin LowIrish Gaelic
MeaningHe who supplants, grips the heel
U.S. rank (2025)#1280 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births154 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2008
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,810
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
Seamus is the Irish Gaelic form of Séamas, from Latin Jacobus (James) and ultimately Hebrew Yaakov meaning he who supplants. It has been used in Ireland since the medieval period.
Seamus is widely used in Ireland and among Irish diaspora communities worldwide.
Did you know? Seamus Heaney (1939-2013), the Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet, is one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. His collection Death of a Naturalist and his translation of Beowulf are masterpieces that gave the name Seamus its greatest literary prestige.
Overall data confidence 90%
Variations
JamesSéamasHamish
Nicknames
ShayShamus
Famous Bearers
- ★Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)Irish poet and translator who won the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature, author of Death of a Naturalist
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Frequently Asked
What does Seamus mean?
He who supplants, grips the heel
How do you pronounce Seamus?
Seamus is pronounced SHAY-mus.
What is the origin of Seamus?
Seamus comes from Irish Gaelic.
What names are similar to Seamus?
Similar names include declan, cormac, conor.