Siobhan

See also: Siobhán

English

Alternative forms

• Shavaughn, Shavon, Shavonne, Shvon, Shvonne

Etymology

Anglicized spelling of Irish Siobhán, from Middle Irish Sibán, from Anglo-Norman Jehane or Jehanne, from Old French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Joanna, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which produced John and its many doublets.

Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ʃəˈvɔːn/
• Rhymes: -ɔːn

Proper noun

Siobhan

1. A female given name from Irish.
   • 2002, Dave Margoshes, “Faith, Hope, Charity”, in Purity of Absence, Dundurn Press Ltd., →ISBN, page 106:

     I think
     about biblical names, Tamara, Michaela,
     Mira, Shoshana, and Celtic names I can
     barely pronounce, Siobhan tangling
     between teeth and tongue.

Related terms

• Sinead