# Siobhan
**Siobhan** (Irish: Siobhán) is a feminine given name of Irish origin, the Irish form of Jehanne, a Norman French variant of Jeanne, and means "God is gracious".[1](https://www.behindthename.com/name/siobha10n) It is pronounced shiv-AWN, two syllables with the stress on the second.[2](https://babynamesofireland.com/siobhan/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meaning | "God is gracious"[2](https://babynamesofireland.com/siobhan/) |
| Origin | Irish form of Jehanne, a Norman French variant of Jeanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna and ultimately Hebrew Yôḥānāh[1](https://www.behindthename.com/name/siobha10n) |
| Pronunciation | /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ (UK), /ʃɪˈvɑːn/ (US); shiv-AWN with stress on the second syllable[3](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/pronunciation/english/siobhan) |
| Masculine equivalent | Seán (also Sean, Shane)[1](https://www.behindthename.com/name/siobha10n) |
| Peak Irish popularity | #15 among girls in the Republic of Ireland in 1971; first recorded at #35 in 1964[4](https://namewise.app/popularity/siobhan) |
| Recent Irish popularity | #885 among girls in the Republic of Ireland in 2025[4](https://namewise.app/popularity/siobhan) |
| Bearers in Ireland | 9,193 people named Siobhan registered (CSO, 1964–2024), about 0.18% of the population, or roughly 1 in 560[5](https://colectivacuriosidad.com/names/irish/siobhan) |
| United States | 7,399 Americans recorded with the name since 1956; 90 girls named Siobhan in 2025[6](https://namealmanac.com/name/siobhan) |
## Etymology and history
Siobhán descends through a chain of forms: from Middle Irish Sibán, from Anglo-Norman Jehane or Jehanne, from Old French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, a variant of Joanna, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew Yôḥānāh, literally "God is gracious", the feminized form of the name that produced [John](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-given-name) and its many doublets (two words in a language from the same historical root).[7](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Siobh%C3%A1n) The name is therefore a doublet of Jane, Jean, Joan, Joanna, Juana, Shauna, Sheena, and related names across Europe.[8](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Siobhan)
The name entered Ireland with the [Anglo-Normans](https://www.edgepedia.org/anglo-normans). The priest and scholar Rev. Patrick Woulfe, in his 1923 dictionary *Irish Names and Surnames*, wrote that the name, common in France in the 12th century as Jehanne and Jeanne and in England as Joan, was brought into Ireland by the Anglo-Normans, where it had ever since been one of the most popular of women's names; he lists Joan, Johanna, and Hannah among its anglicizations.[9](https://www.libraryireland.com/names/women/siobhan-joan.php) English forms in modern use include Shevaun, Shavon, and Chevonne.[2](https://babynamesofireland.com/siobhan/)
## Pronunciation
In English the name is typically pronounced /ʃəˈvɔːn/, with Cambridge dictionaries giving UK /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ and US /ʃɪˈvɑːn/.[3](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/pronunciation/english/siobhan) Behind the Name records several Irish pronunciations, including /ˈʃɪ.waːnˠ/ and /ʃə.ˈvˠaːnˠ/.[1](https://www.behindthename.com/name/siobha10n) The variation reflects Irish dialect: the rendering most English speakers hear follows the Munster or Connacht pronunciation, which is the most common form, while Ulster speakers pronounce the name differently.[10](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/622957/why-is-siobhan-pronounced-with-a-v-sound-in-english/622978) The spelling with an h marking the lenited bh is a later practice, which indicates that the spelling was not introduced into English early on.[11](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/622957/why-is-siobhan-pronounced-with-a-v-sound-in-english)
## Popularity
Official registration data show a steep rise and fall. Siobhán was first recorded at #35 among girls in the [Republic of Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/republic-of-ireland) in 1964, the earliest year that source publishes the name, and reached its highest recorded position, #15, in 1971.[4](https://namewise.app/popularity/siobhan) It was recorded in 57 of the 62 years from 1964 to 2025, with 9,161 births registered in the Republic of Ireland over that period.[4](https://namewise.app/popularity/siobhan) By 2025 it had fallen to #885 among girls in the Republic of Ireland, with 3 girls given the name that year, and to #3705 in [England and Wales](https://www.edgepedia.org/england-and-wales), where 6 girls received it.[4](https://namewise.app/popularity/siobhan) • [12](https://nametree.me/name/siobhan/) A 2026 survey of traditional Irish names noted that Siobhán ranked 32nd in 1990 but had since fallen off the charts, with fewer than 3 babies named Siobhán in 2020 and 2024.[13](https://www.midwestradio.ie/news/popular-traditional-irish-names-in-2026/)
The name remains well represented among the living population. According to Ireland's Central Statistics Office data for 1964–2024, 9,193 people in Ireland are named Siobhan, ranking #44 among 2,172 registered female names and representing about 0.18% of the population, roughly 1 in every 560 people; the average age of bearers is 44.9 years.[5](https://colectivacuriosidad.com/names/irish/siobhan) In the United States, the [Social Security Administration](https://www.edgepedia.org/social-security-administration) has recorded 7,399 Americans named Siobhan since 1956, with 90 girls given the name in 2025, ranking #2,096 among girls' names.[6](https://namealmanac.com/name/siobhan) In Spain the name is held by 50 people.[5](https://colectivacuriosidad.com/names/irish/siobhan)
## Notable bearers
The Irish actress Siobhan McKenna, who died in 1986, was considered by many to personify all that was good about being Irish.[2](https://babynamesofireland.com/siobhan/)
## References
1. [Meaning, origin and history of the name Siobhán, Behind the Name](https://www.behindthename.com/name/siobha10n)
2. [Siobhan: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin, Baby Names of Ireland](https://babynamesofireland.com/siobhan/)
3. [English pronunciation of Siobhan, Cambridge Dictionary](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/pronunciation/english/siobhan)
4. [Siobhán Popularity, Namewise](https://namewise.app/popularity/siobhan)
5. [Siobhan in Ireland, Colectiva Curiosidad](https://colectivacuriosidad.com/names/irish/siobhan)
6. [Siobhan: name popularity, meaning and age, NameAlmanac](https://namealmanac.com/name/siobhan)
7. [Siobhán, Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Siobh%C3%A1n)
8. [Siobhan, Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Siobhan)
9. [SIOBHÁN, Rev. Patrick Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923), Library Ireland](https://www.libraryireland.com/names/women/siobhan-joan.php)
10. [Why is Siobhan pronounced with a /v/ sound in English?, English Language & Usage Stack Exchange](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/622957/why-is-siobhan-pronounced-with-a-v-sound-in-english/622978)
11. [Why is Siobhan pronounced with a /v/ sound in English?, English Language & Usage Stack Exchange](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/622957/why-is-siobhan-pronounced-with-a-v-sound-in-english)
12. [Siobhan: meaning, origin, and popularity, Nametree](https://nametree.me/name/siobhan/)
13. [Popular traditional Irish Names, Midwest Radio](https://www.midwestradio.ie/news/popular-traditional-irish-names-in-2026/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Languages and linguistics › Names and onomastics › Individual given names (by language and gender) › Celtic, Slavic, and world names*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license