Pronunciation
Seh-nawn / Sheh-nawn
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Old, wise
Fun fact
The fada over the a gives this name its longer awn ending. Without it, you'll often hear Senan, Sen-un. It's a good example of how that small accent can change an Irish name's sound.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Senán, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | #198 |
| 2024 | 25 | #195 |
| 2023 | 24 | #203 |
| 2022 | 26 | #198 |
| 2021 | 26 | #201 |
| 2020 | 19 | #250 |
| 2019 | 8 | #438 |
| 2018 | 7 | #471 |
| 2017 | 125 | #57 |
| 2016 | 128 | #58 |
| 2015 | 136 | #56 |
| 2014 | 140 | #60 |
| 2013 | 147 | #58 |
| 2012 | 126 | #65 |
| 2011 | 121 | #67 |
| 2010 | 103 | #74 |
| 2009 | 96 | #85 |
| 2008 | 97 | #85 |
| 2007 | 72 | #101 |
| 2006 | 65 | #95 |
| 2005 | 54 | #106 |
| 2004 | 48 | #113 |
| 2003 | 25 | #156 |
| 2002 | 14 | #204 |
| 2001 | 10 | #226 |
| 2000 | 8 | #236 |
| 1999 | 8 | #222 |
| 1998 | 8 | #222 |
| 1997 | 17 | #174 |
| 1996 | 10 | #223 |
| 1995 | 11 | #206 |
| 1994 | 5 | #263 |
| 1993 | 8 | #223 |
| 1992 | 4 | #298 |
| 1991 | 3 | #324 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1989 | 6 | #232 |
| 1988 | 6 | #235 |
| 1987 | 6 | #235 |
| 1986 | 8 | #217 |
| 1985 | 9 | #202 |
| 1984 | 9 | #205 |
| 1983 | 6 | #237 |
| 1982 | 4 | #286 |
| 1981 | 6 | #246 |
| 1980 | 6 | #252 |
| 1979 | 5 | #269 |
| 1978 | 4 | #283 |
| 1977 | 6 | #253 |
| 1976 | 7 | #232 |
| 1975 | 9 | #216 |
| 1974 | 10 | #208 |
| 1973 | 7 | #238 |
| 1972 | 5 | #254 |
| 1971 | 6 | #242 |
| 1970 | 7 | #219 |
| 1969 | 7 | #216 |
| 1968 | 4 | #243 |
| 1967 | 5 | #222 |
| 1966 | 4 | #229 |
| 1965 | 4 | #222 |
| 1964 | 6 | #191 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.