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
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
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
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
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
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
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
Caleb
凯勒布
Hebrew
Cody
科迪
Irish
Dylan
迪伦
Welsh
Elijah
以利亚
Hebrew
Gabriel
加布里埃尔
Hebrew
Gianna
吉安娜
Italian/Hebrew
Giovanni
乔瓦尼
Italian/Hebrew
Ian
伊恩
Scottish/Hebrew
Ivan
伊万
Russian/Hebrew
Jack
杰克
English/Hebrew
Jeremy
杰里米
Hebrew
Joanna
乔安娜
Hebrew
John
约翰
Hebrew
Johnny
约翰尼
Hebrew
Juan
胡安
Spanish/Hebrew
Logan
洛根
Scottish
Mason
梅森
English
Patrick
帕特里克
Latin
Richard
理查德
Germanic
Shane
沙恩
Irish/Hebrew
Shawn
肖恩
Irish/Hebrew