boy's name
Connor
KON-ər
- Origin Irish
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 327,845
the United States
#166
2025 births
Connor is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "lover of hounds." It anglicizes Conchobhar, and belongs to the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle — one of the central figures of Irish legend.
- Connor is a name of Irish origin.
- Peaked in 2004, when 10,116 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 1,490 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1913.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Connor over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1910s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 31 |
| 1920s | 47 |
| 1930s | 23 |
| 1940s | 50 |
| 1950s | 39 |
| 1960s | 84 |
| 1970s | 233 |
| 1980s | 3,360 |
| 1990s | 58,389 |
| 2000s | 86,358 |
| 2010s | 68,465 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 19,183 |
What Connor means
Connor means lover of hounds, or one who desires wolves. The elements are con, from cú meaning hound or wolf, and a second part usually read as desiring — the hound being a mark of status in early Irish society.
Where Connor comes from
Connor anglicizes the Irish Conchobhar, from cú, a hound or wolf, and a second element generally read as desire or love. Hounds were high-status animals in early Ireland, which is why cú appears in so many heroic names — Cú Chulainn means the hound of Culann. Conchobhar mac Nessa was king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle, and it is at his court that Cú Chulainn's deeds take place. The surname O'Connor descends from the same name, borne by the last High Kings of Ireland.
Connor in use
Our data shows Connor falling, peaking in 2004, and it first appears in our records in 1913. Its 2004 peak places it with Ryan, Jordan and Zachary — a cohort of boys' names that rose and fell within about twenty years, and the same group our Zachary entry identifies.
How popular is Connor?
In 2025, Connor was given to 2,225 babies in the United States, ranking #166 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Where Connor is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Connor
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Connor also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Connor over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for Connor
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Connor in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Connor
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Connor — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Connor
What does the name Connor mean?
Connor means "lover of hounds," from the Irish cú, hound, by way of Conchobhar.
What is the difference between Connor and Conor?
Only spelling. Conor with one n is the standard Irish form; Connor is more common elsewhere.
Who was Conchobhar mac Nessa?
The king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle, at whose court Cú Chulainn's deeds take place.
How popular is the name Connor?
In 2025, Connor was given to 2,225 babies in the United States, ranking #166 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Is Connor a girl's or a boy's name?
Connor is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Connor?
Connor has 2 syllables.
When was Connor most popular?
Connor peaked in 2004, when 10,116 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Connor?
Connor is usually shortened to Con and Conny.
Is Connor a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Connor currently ranks #88 in the United States. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.