Sean- not popular in UK?

[Elisemum]

So we’ve decided to name our new son Sean - a name I always loved. I’m not Irish (my husband is), we live in Ireland. I have read hundreds of threads here on this forums on boys names, not one of them has ever mentioned Sean:) thousands of names being mentioned here, and I wonder why never ever Sean? Is Sean not at all known/given in England/uk? I’m from continental Europe and Sean was always known to me: Sean Connery, Sean Penn.

I know someone (English but W Irish roots now living in Donegal) with a 2 year old Sean..

It’s very well known in England, out of fashion right now. It’s less neutral than Jamie, and like Shannon probably has a slightly downmarket rep.

I guess it's just a bit dull, Paul and Sean ''go'' together. Don't dislike them but they're not very exciting.

I know an 18 year old Sean.

I love the name Sean. Good choice

I think it's just the same as any other name - it's not currently popular because it had it's day too recently and hasn't come back around yet. It's still in the "boring" category for me, when all the people with that name are 70+ I have no doubt it will suddenly become desirable again.

I used to work in schools and there were two Seans in the class that would now be going into year 6. I remember thinking that's a bit unusual, haven't heard it for a while - but I think it's a nice name that will never seem actively old-fashioned.

Nothing wrong with it, and English people will know how to say it, but it is old fashioned. It’s rather like Jason, Dean, Paul, Darren etc.

Sean is one of those Irish names there has been a fad for in the UK. It was very popular in my age-group (I'm 50)

But then people moved onto Liam and now to Cillian.

If you live in Ireland there's no issue, but in the UK it's quite dated.

Yes it is well known in the UK but not in the current fashion for baby names. These things normally go in a cycle, it will come back. Nothing wrong with the name.

Whereas I assume in Ireland it's a classic name, so there'll be a steady flow of new baby Seans.

We usually have 2 or 3 Sean's in our primary school. So definitely not popular, but not rare either.

Sean is very much of its time for most of England I think. Popular when I was a child but yet to enjoy a resurgence. Like Paul, Andrew, David etc. Good solid names but mostly associated with adults.

My dh is a Shaun

He hates his name.

Why though? It's quite a neutral name you would think.

@Soubriquet why? Sean is a very manly and “normal” name…

Shaun always reminds me of this fella

Lots of Sean/Shauns in my age group (40s).

It’s a nice name and seems to work for your family, so I’d go for it

@BikeRunSki

Shaun always reminds me of this fella

Precisely why

He was nicknamed Shaun the sheep for many years and he always hated that.

I did tease him once about naming ds Timmy. That didn’t go down well

I'm around 50 and know quite a lot of Sean's who are a similar age to me. Don't know any younger ones but it's quite a well-known name, just not that popular right now. Like Paul or Robert or similar.

All the Seans I know are over 40.

I did tease him once about naming ds Timmy. That didn’t go down well

Genius