Sean in Chinese

Sean in Chinese is 肖恩 (Xiào Ēn).

Origin
Irish/Hebrew
Meaning
God is gracious

Etymologically, Sean is Irish/Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "God is gracious". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1925 and peaked in 1990. Spellings pronounced the same way include Shawn, which share the transliteration 肖恩.

3 ways to write Sean

phonetic

Following the sound of your name

肖恩

Xiào Ēn

The standard transliteration of Sean: 肖 (xiào, "to resemble"), 恩 (ēn, "grace, kindness"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.

Why these characters?

To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 2 characters: 肖 xiào + 恩 ēn. The tone contour is 4-1 (falling, high level).

Character breakdown

17 strokes total (simplified)
肖

xiào

Tone 4 · 7 strokes (simplified)

to resemble

恩

ēn

Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)

grace, kindness

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Stroke order

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meaningful

Chosen for meaning and association

福涛

Fú Tāo

Inspired by "God is gracious": 福 (fú, "blessing, fortune") + 涛 (tāo, "great waves"), expressing blessing and divine protection.

Why these characters?

福 (blessing, fortune) answers the "God" in Sean's meaning, and 涛 (great waves) rounds it off as a typical ending for boys' names.

Character breakdown

24 strokes total (simplified)
福

fú

Tone 2 · 14 strokes (simplified)

blessing, fortune

涛

tāo

Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)

great waves

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Stroke order

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balanced

A balance of sound and meaning

福佑

Fú Yòu

福 (fú, "blessing, fortune") + 佑 (yòu, "blessing, protection"): a natural Chinese given name themed on blessing and divine protection.

Why these characters?

No attractive character closely matches "sean" (xiào), so 福 ("blessing, fortune") and 佑 ("blessing, protection") were chosen for blessing and divine protection.

Character breakdown

21 strokes total (simplified)
福

fú

Tone 2 · 14 strokes (simplified)

blessing, fortune

佑

yòu

Tone 4 · 7 strokes (simplified)

blessing, protection

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Stroke order

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Popularity in the US

US Social Security records show 416,478 boys named Sean since 1925, with the high point in 1990 (12,014 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #37 to #251 among boys.

Peak year
1990
Peak decade
1980s
First year
1925
Total since 1880
416,478

More About Sean in Chinese

The Chinese translation of Sean offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Sean, you'll find options that work for you.

Sean is also spelled Shawn — both names use the same Chinese transliteration.

Names with the same root meaning include John in Chinese, Juan in Chinese, Jack in Chinese, Ian in Chinese, Shane in Chinese, Ivan in Chinese, Johnny in Chinese, Giovanni in Chinese, Gianna in Chinese, and Joanna in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.

If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Shawn in Chinese, John in Chinese, and Juan in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.

Other popular choices include Jack in Chinese, Ian in Chinese, Shane in Chinese, Ivan in Chinese, and Johnny in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.

When choosing Chinese characters for Sean, consider whether you want:

  • Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Sean to native Chinese speakers
  • Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
  • Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages

Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sean in Chinese characters?

肖恩 (Xiào Ēn), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.

How popular is the name Sean?

US Social Security records show 416,478 boys named Sean since 1925, with the high point in 1990 (12,014 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #37 to #251 among boys.

How many strokes does 肖恩 have?

17 strokes in simplified form; per character: 肖 7, 恩 10.

Related names and spelling variants

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