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Boy name · Hebrew

Shane

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: God is gracious

Shane is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". It is used in English and Irish.

Meaning
God is gracious
Origin
Hebrew
Gender
Boy
US rank
#636 in 2025

Meaning and origin of Shane

As a boy's name, Shane comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". It is used in English and Irish.

In Irish, say SHAYN. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.

Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names

Shane on Nomezo lists

What our editors wrote about Shane on 3 lists.

  • “God is gracious; Hebrew. Irish form of John”

    From Boy middle names, one-syllable boy middle names

  • “The lone gunfighter of Jack Schaefer's 1949 novel and the 1953 film”

    From Cowboy names, cowboy names from books, films and games

  • “English spelling of Seán: God is gracious. Say SHAYN.”

    From Irish boy names, irish boys' names in English spelling

How popular is Shane?

US rank in 2025
#636
439 babies, 257 per million boys
Best rank
#54 in 1973
5,710 babies that year
Babies since 1933
At least 192,583
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 1970s, at 3,044 per million.
Babies named Shane per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 1970s
1880s0 per million
1890s0 per million
1900s0 per million
1910s0 per million
1920s0 per million
1930s3 per million
1940s11 per million
1950s128 per million
1960s723 per million
1970s3,044 per million
1980s2,339 per million
1990s2,084 per million
2000s1,309 per million
2010s665 per million
2020s308 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Rank#325#359#372#424#507#494#511#555#602#636

Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.

Other forms of Shane

The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.

  • ElchananGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • EoinGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • EvanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • GianniGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • GiannisGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • GiovanniGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • HannesGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • HansGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • IainGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • IanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • IantoGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • IbanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)

Names spelled like Shane

One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.

  • SeanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • ShamsSun (Arabic, unisex)
  • SageWise one (Latin, unisex)
  • ŞanFame, glory (Turkish, unisex)
  • ShadySinger (Arabic, boy)
  • ShaiGift, present (Hebrew, unisex)
  • ShakedAlmond tree (Hebrew, unisex)
  • ShalevCalm, tranquil (Hebrew, unisex)
  • ShaulAsked for, prayed for (Hebrew, boy)

Names with a similar meaning

  • JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • MilanGracious, dear; a short form of Slavic Mil- names (Slavic, unisex)
  • MilaGracious, dear (Slavic, girl)
  • JackGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • JanaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
  • JohannaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
  • JohannesGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • MilenaGracious, dear (Slavic, girl)
  • GiaPet form of Gianna, God is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
  • GiannaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)

Middle names for Shane

Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.

  • BartholomewSon of Talmai (Aramaic, boy)
  • ElijahMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
  • EvanderGood man (Greek, boy)
  • FlorianFlourishing, blossoming (Latin, boy)
  • JonahA dove (Hebrew, boy)
  • LamarThe pool (Old French, boy)
  • ReubenBehold, a son (Hebrew, boy)
  • TheodoreGift of God (Greek, boy)

More boy names from Hebrew

  • AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
  • DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
  • DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
  • NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
  • EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
  • GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
  • AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
  • BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
  • IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
  • JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)

Shane: common questions

What does the name Shane mean?

Shane comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious".

Is Shane a boy or girl name?

Shane is mainly a boy's name.

Where does the name Shane come from?

Shane comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". Today it is used in English and Irish.

How popular is the name Shane?

Shane ranked #636 in the US in 2025, with 439 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

What are other forms of Shane?

Forms of Shane with the same meaning and origin include Elchanan (Hebrew), Eoin (Irish), Evan (English), Gianni (Italian) and Giannis (Greek).

What middle names go with Shane?

Middle names that flow well with Shane include Bartholomew, Elijah, Evander, Florian and Jonah. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.