Given name
Siobhan
“God is gracious”·“a gift from God”·“an old, wise man”
Siobhan is a variant of Seanan. Interpretations include “a gift from God” and “an old, wise man”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts. Siobhan is a form of Joan. In Hebrew use, Joan carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Original IrishSiobhán
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Irish use, Siobhan carries the interpretation “God is gracious.” Siobhan is a variant of Seanan. Interpretations include “a gift from God” and “an old, wise man”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts. Siobhan is a form of Joan. In Hebrew use, Joan carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
How it developed
Siobhan is used as a form of Joan.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1956. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Siobhan has a related form in Joanna. The history of Joanna gives this family its wider story. Joanna was in use during the Middle Ages.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Siobhan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,399
- 0 boys · 7,399 girls
- Most popular year
- 1980
- 282 babies
- 2025
- 90
- #2,096 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +100%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 90 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,096 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 99.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 282 in 1980. In 2025, New York and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,208 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Siobhan’s family of names
In English usage, Siobhan has a diminutive in Shiv. In English usage, Siobhan shares an earlier linguistic root with Jean. Siobhan is a form of Joan.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 22
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 21
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Siobhánroot · Irish
- Janedoublet · English
- Joandoublet · English
- Shanedoublet · English
- Shawndoublet · English
- Johannadoublet · English
- Jeandoublet · English
- Ivanadoublet · English
Show 13 moreShow fewer
People named Siobhan
- Siobhan Fallon HoganAmerican actressborn 1961
- Siobhan ChamberlainEnglish footballerborn 1983
- Siobhan DowdBritish writer and activist (1960–2007)
- Siobhan WilliamsBritish actressborn 1992
- Siobhan HayesBritish actressborn 1975
- Siobhan HewlettBritish actressborn 1983
- Siobhan Heekin-CanedyAmerican ice dancerborn 1991
- Siobhan MarshallNew Zealand actressborn 1983
- Siobhan Murphyactressborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Siobhan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Sheila
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Seonaid
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