Irish boy name

Séamus Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation

Séamus means supplanter. Irish form of James, from Hebrew Yaakov, meaning supplanter

Séamus is the Irish form of James, from the Hebrew Yaakov, usually interpreted as supplanter or holder of the heel. It entered Irish through Norman influence and, like Seán, became thoroughly Gaelic. The Scottish Gaelic cousin is Seumas, which gives Hamish in its vocative form. The anglicised spelling Shamus was historically used in America as a slang word for a police officer or detective, but the original is a dignified name. The poet Seamus Heaney, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995, is the best-known modern bearer.

Variants of Séamus

SeamusShamusHamishJames

Well-known people named Séamus

Seamus Heaney.

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Séamus mean?

Séamus means "supplanter". Irish form of James, from Hebrew Yaakov, meaning supplanter.

How do you pronounce Séamus?

Séamus is pronounced SHAY-mus.

What is the origin of Séamus?

Séamus is of Irish origin. Irish form of James, from Hebrew Yaakov, meaning supplanter.