Is Sean Bean Irish? Actor's real name, why he changed it and the hilarious double meaning it has in Ireland

Sean Bean's name has caused confusion for mean years , with people expressing confusion as to why the similarly spelled first name and last name don't rhyme.

Many have argued the name should either be pronounced "Seen Been" or "Shawn Bawn." But, there's a reason the names don't rhyme.

'Sean' is an Irish name , and so the Irish language influences how the word is said. 'Bean' on the other hand, is a British last name, and so the way it is pronounced is influenced by the English language.

• Beautiful but rare Irish baby name for boys was only given to three babies last year

• Hozier's story of meeting Cillian Murphy while ‘hungover’ and ‘head bleeding’ on an airplane is hysterical

But, Sean Bean is not the actor's real name.

What is Sean Bean's real name?

In fact, he was born Shaun Mark Bean on 17 April 1959.

Explaining why he changed his name in an interview, the actor said: "I thought it may be a bit catchier, which that's turned out to be. But I don't know if it's for the right reasons because everyone calls me Seen Been or Shawn Bawn.

• Thrilling Cillian Murphy flick on Netflix dubbed 'outstanding' by viewers
• Bono's daughter Eve Hewson fires back at nepo baby claims with 13-word slap down

"I guess it was just a little bit fanciful I just left drama school and I thought, catchy name and that was it really."

Is Sean Bean Irish?

Sean Bean is not Irish; he is English. He was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, on April 17, 1959.

• Harry Styles and Cillian Murphy party together at beloved Irish band’s gig with star-studded guest list

He is best known for his roles in films and television series such as The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. While he has portrayed various characters with different nationalities, his own heritage is English.

What does Sean Bean's name mean in the Irish language?

Sean bhean is an Irish phrase that translates to "the poor old woman" and is phonetically rendered as "Shan Van Vocht".

The phrase was used in a song from the 1798 Irish rebellion that became well-known in 19th century Ireland as a seditious text.

The song was also the basis for a 1902 nationalist play by W. B. Yeats and Augusta, Lady Gregory called Cathleen Ní Houlihan.