What is the most authentic spelling of Seán? Is Seaghán a variation of Seán? In the Irish Times obituary of Seán McBride a while ago it stated that his christian name was org Seaghán then changed to Seán. Certainly Seaghán looks better in Irish script.

"Seán" is the Irish version or borrowing of Norman French "Jehan", which is now normally spelled "Jean" by the French. An early Irish spelling is "Seaan", and I'm guessing that both the Norman French and the derived Irish pronunciation originally had two syllables: Zhuh-AN, Sha-AN. Spelling the name "Seaghán", with the mute -gh-, would have been another way to represent the two syllables. I'm just guessing here, but it looks logical. :-)

Dennis

Since the introduction of the 'new' spelling in the late 'forties i think just about everyone spells it 'Seán'. In English it is possibly better to spell it 'Shawn' or even 'Shane' as it causes less opportunity for mispronouncation.

Yeah, I have gone my whole life correcting
the spelling of my name: Sean. I can't
imagine what sort of trouble someone with
the spelling Seaghán would encounter!

Seán ( not shawn, shaun, séan, seaghán,... :-) )

Some Irish-speakers (and others) delight in the added heft or presence that the now-mute old consonants lend their names.

Why be just Seán Ó Sé when you can be Seaghán Ó Séaghdha?

Dennis