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Home › Baby Names Directory › Shawneen

Shawneen

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Shawneen

Pronounced shaw-NEEN /ʃɔːˈniːn/Medium

Meaning: Shawneen joins Shawn, the English spelling of the Irish Sean, to the Irish diminutive ending -een (Irish -in), 'little, dear.' Sean is the Irish form of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, 'God is gracious.' So Shawneen reads warmly as 'little Shawn,' carrying John's gracious meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: Shawneen is a rare Irish-style diminutive of Shawn, from John, 'God is gracious,' with the -een ending. It saw small use around the nineteen-seventies (said shaw-NEEN).
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Origin LowIrish, Hebrew
MeaningShawneen joins Shawn, the English spelling of the Irish Sean, to the Irish diminutive ending -een (Irish -in), 'little, dear.' Sean is the Irish form of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, 'God is gracious.' So Shawneen reads warmly as 'little Shawn,' carrying John's gracious meaning.
U.S. rank (1988)#9094 ↗ Rising
1988 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1971
Total births (all-time)≈ 123

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197119591988

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

Shawneen takes Shawn, the English form of the Irish Sean, and adds the affectionate Irish -een ending, 'little.' Sean is Ireland's John, from the Hebrew for 'God is gracious.' The name belongs with the mid-century Irish-American -een names like Maureen and Kathleen, chosen for their soft, homeland-honoring lilt.

The name was never common, given to only about fourteen girls a year at its peak around the early nineteen-seventies and to barely more than a hundred over its run. A Shawneen from then is in her mid-fifties today, of that Irish-diminutive moment rather than a current trend.

Did you know? The -een ending on Shawneen is the Irish diminutive that also gives us Maureen and Colleen, a fond 'little' tag beloved in Irish-American naming.
Overall data confidence 33%
References - Shawneen — Shawn (< Sean < John, Hebrew 'God is gracious') + Irish -een 'little'.

Variations

ShauneenShawnaSianin

Nicknames

ShawnNina

Famous Bearers

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If you like Shawneen…

Shawna— the Shaun-family root it grows from
Maureen— a like Irish -een diminutive
Kathleen— a fellow soft Irish -een name
Colleen— another warm Irish girl's name

Explore names like Shawneen

By themevintageirishdiminutivegracious

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shawneen mean?

It is an Irish-style diminutive of Shawn, from Sean and John, 'God is gracious,' with the -een ending, 'little.'

How do you pronounce Shawneen?

It is said shaw-NEEN /ʃɔːˈniːn/ - two syllables, stress on the last.

Is Shawneen a boy or girl name?

Shawneen is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Shawneen?

It was always rare, with a small peak around the early nineteen-seventies.

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