[Facts] Re: My column on Sean (and Shawn and Shaun)
in reply to a message by clevelandkentevans
The Shawn spelling being used for girls might have been influenced by it being more common as a surname spelling. If you heard Sean for the first time and were only familiar with it as a surname, it might have sounded unisex. During the 1930 to 70s when Shawn trended for girls there was Ted Shawn, William Shawn and Dick Shawn.