FastNamesConnor
Irish and Celtic name meaning "Anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic personal name Conchobhar, traditionally interpreted as 'lover of hounds' or 'wolf enthusiast' (from con 'hound/wolf' and cobhar 'desiring/help').". Ranked 166th for boys in 2025.
Meaning and origin of Connor
Anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic personal name Conchobhar, traditionally interpreted as 'lover of hounds' or 'wolf enthusiast' (from con 'hound/wolf' and cobhar 'desiring/help').
Linguistically, Connor is classified under Irish and Celtic naming traditions. It is typically pronounced "KON-ər".
Popularity and ranking
In official US Social Security birth records from 1880 through 2025, Connor has been given to a total of 234,546 boys. It has also been given to 1,716 girls.
Peak year: Connor reached its highest relative share among boys in 2004, when 10,049 babies received the name (5,063 per million births).
All-time best rank: 38th place, first achieved in 2004.
Recent standing (2025): Ranked 166th with 2,211 births. Ten years earlier in 2015, it ranked 55th (down 111 spots).
Busiest decade: More boys were named Connor in the 2000s than in any other decade (85,985 births).
| Decade | Recorded births |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 31 |
| 1920s | 47 |
| 1930s | 23 |
| 1940s | 50 |
| 1950s | 39 |
| 1960s | 84 |
| 1970s | 233 |
| 1980s | 3,319 |
| 1990s | 57,391 |
| 2000s | 85,985 |
| 2010s | 68,270 |
| 2020s | 19,074 |
Source: Social Security Administration, national baby name data, data through 2025. Names given to fewer than five babies of one sex in a year aren't published, so totals are a little lower than actual births.
Where Connor is most common in the US
Accounting for when Connor was in fashion nationally, it has been most heavily concentrated in the following states (measured against the expected rate from each state's births):
- Vermont: 2.7 times the national rate (770 births since 1910).
- New Hampshire: 2.6 times the national rate (1,916 births since 1910).
- Maine: 2.1 times the national rate (1,525 births since 1910).
- Connecticut: 1.8 times the national rate (3,942 births since 1910).
- Massachusetts: 1.7 times the national rate (7,814 births since 1910).
Source: Social Security Administration, baby names by state, data through 2025. Names given to fewer than five babies of one sex in a state in a year aren't published, so totals are a little lower than actual births.
How many people have the name Connor?
About 231,000 living American boys and men share the name Connor. Additionally, an estimated 1,700 living American girls and women share the name.
The median age of an American named Connor is 20 years old.
Estimated from Social Security Administration records (1880–2025) and official SSA cohort mortality tables.
History of the name Connor
Connor is an Anglicized phonetic rendering of the venerable Old Irish masculine name Conchobhar (compounded from cú, inflected con, meaning 'hound', 'wolf', or 'swift warrior', and cobhar, meaning 'desiring', 'help', or 'zeal'). In ancient Celtic society where hunting hounds and wolfhounds were prized emblems of nobility, loyalty, and martial prowess, the name commanded immense honor among Gaelic chieftain dynasties across Ulster, Connacht, and Munster.
In Irish mythological tradition, Conchobar mac Nessa reigned as the legendary king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Gaelic folklore, presiding over the court of Emain Macha alongside the warrior hero Cú Chulainn. As a historic surname and baptismal name, Conchobhar was borne by several high kings of Ireland and dynastic leaders of the O'Conor Royal House of Connacht, who maintained Gaelic independence through medieval Anglo-Norman incursions.
While historically utilized almost exclusively as a surname in English records (O'Connor or Connor), Connor experienced a major resurgence as an independent given name throughout the English-speaking diaspora during the late twentieth century. In the United States, Connor entered the top one hundred boys' names in 1992 and peaked within the national top forty during the 2000s, celebrated for its spirited Celtic heritage, brisk two-syllable punch, and athletic character.
Notable people named Connor
- Connor McDavid (1997–), Canadian NHL superstar and three-time Hart Trophy MVP
- Connor Bedard (2005–), Canadian NHL forward and 2024 Calder Memorial Trophy winner
- Connor Hellebuyck (1993–), American NHL goaltender and two-time Vezina Trophy winner
- Connor Trinneer (1969–), American actor known for Star Trek: Enterprise
Variants and related names
Spelling variants
Diminutives and nicknames
Related names
Sources and references
- Edward MacLysaght. The Surnames of Ireland (1985), p. 57.
- Patrick Hanks, Kate Hardcastle, Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of First Names (2006), p. 64.