Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Seánna? - correct spelling

63 replies

suzettenoisette · 25/09/2023 23:21

This is just for a middle name, the second middle name to be exact. We want to honor a Seán. I do like Seán and I do like shaw-na, the way it sounds. I do, however, dislike the way Shauna and Shawna look.

I don't mind Seána, but I think it would get see-ann-a, but as a middle name it won't matter much. I do like Seánna a lot.

Now my questions is, would this be spelt Seánna or Seanna correctly? I know that Seán is the Irish spelling, but does the fada stay, when it is feminised?

Does Seánna work? First name is still not decided on, but we like Samantha, Sabrina, Poppy, Holly, Selena and Haley.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
EllaMenopee · 26/09/2023 15:37

There is an Irish actress Séana Kerslake (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1na_Kerslake) but I think she pronounces her name Shane-ah.

Isn't Séan the Irish for John? You could go with Joan, Johanna, or similar.

Seána Kerslake - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1na_Kerslake

KirstenBlest · 26/09/2023 15:36

Why not use Sinead or Siobhan?

BriocheForBreakfast · 26/09/2023 15:29

There was a well known actress called Sean Young who was in the original Blade Runner. So how about just using Sean?

Marynotsocontrary · 26/09/2023 14:59

KirstenBlest · 26/09/2023 09:34

I'd spell it Shona. If I saw Seana without the fada, I'd think it was See-a(r)na. Seanna without a fada, See-anna.

The fada would be omitted by a lot of computers.

Edited

But Shona and Shauna don't sound the same?

fourelementary · 26/09/2023 14:55

Has Sean got a middle name?

Original poster
suzettenoisette · 26/09/2023 14:51

Thanks so far. Anyone else have any information?

I don't want to use Seán as it's strictly masculine to me.

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 26/09/2023 10:17

Why not honor Sean by using his name ..
Samantha Sean
Holly Sean
Sabrina Seanie - is sweet.
Poppy Sean

TheBirdintheCave · 26/09/2023 09:44

mathanxiety · 26/09/2023 01:53

None of those spellings is Irish - Shauna/Shawna/Seánna/Seána are not really Irish names either. I agree they're all from the Shannon/Colleen stable.

I'd go with Seána if you want it to look more Irish. Seánna is the least authentic spelling you've included.

This is interesting as I went to primary school with a girl called Shauna who was actually Irish. I always assumed it was an actual Irish name.

KirstenBlest · 26/09/2023 09:34

I'd spell it Shona. If I saw Seana without the fada, I'd think it was See-a(r)na. Seanna without a fada, See-anna.

The fada would be omitted by a lot of computers.

mathanxiety · 26/09/2023 01:53

None of those spellings is Irish - Shauna/Shawna/Seánna/Seána are not really Irish names either. I agree they're all from the Shannon/Colleen stable.

I'd go with Seána if you want it to look more Irish. Seánna is the least authentic spelling you've included.

Alloveragain3 · 26/09/2023 00:59

I'm Irish and that spelling doesn't work for me, it just seems odd somehow.

I knew quite a few girls with this name growing up and it was always spelled Shauna or Shawna.

TheMurderousGoose · 25/09/2023 23:58

I suppose Seánna or Seána could both be correct. I'd veer towards Seána personally. The second n seems extraneous.

The fada definitely stays. Nothing to do with male name and feminine names. It's what gives the a the aw sound.

Tbh I've only ever met Shaunas in Ireland and have just assumed it's from the Colleen/Shannon stable of Irish-American names

DramaAlpaca · 25/09/2023 23:42

I think it needs the fada, as without it the pronunciation would be 'shanna' rhyming with Hannah. You need the fada to give the long 'aw' sound that Seán has.

That said, I've never seen that spelling of Seánna used in Ireland.

Swipe left for the next trending thread