VL--IV Shawn and Eric; TRP gets the names very right
Mark Kohut
markekohut at yahoo.com
Sun Jan 4 10:52:21 CST 2009
Shawn, as a first name is a derivate of John. The name "John" originates from the Hebrew יוחנן Yôḥānnān, which means "Yahweh is gracious" or "God is gracious".
Eric. Cf. Erik the Conquerer, maybe the most well-known Viking?
Two male names that became very popular in America in the 60s and 70s. Shawn, from NOT in the top 1,000 boy's names in the 1950s, to #75 in the 1960s and 34 in the 19 70s.
Eric up from the 400s---with Erick a bit behind it in the 1950s to (only) Eric in the 400s in the 1960s and Eric in the top 25 in the 1970s. [Source: SS web site!]
Erik is a minor variant in America but deemed more authentic and common in Scandinavia.
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