Connor first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Connor has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Connor

Wolf lover; strong-willed, wise and favored leader.

Popularity of Connor by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Connor is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Connor being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,855 male babies and 23 female babies born with the name Connor.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 23 baby girls were named Connor in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 2,855 23
2022 3,199 18
2021 3,757 15
2020 4,408 15
2019 5,157 29
2018 6,082 25
2017 6,418 23
2016 7,037 23
2015 6,766 22
2014 7,229 27
2013 7,114 9
2012 6,981 13
2011 7,409 11
2010 8,050 13
2009 8,101 18
2008 7,816 16
2007 8,328 18
2006 8,674 31
2005 9,320 29
2004 10,049 67
2003 9,670 40
2002 8,409 43
2001 8,082 48
2000 7,529 63
1999 7,597 75
1998 7,906 93
1997 7,141 133
1996 6,911 126
1995 6,617 123
1994 6,316 131
1993 6,453 122
1992 4,607 134
1991 2,462 54
1990 1,377 7
1989 936 15
1988 785 7
1987 582 8
1986 276 5
1985 177 0
1984 157 0
1983 141 0
1982 89 0
1981 95 0
1980 78 6
1979 64 0
1978 57 0
1977 25 0
1976 18 0
1975 18 0
1974 11 0

The history of the first name Connor

The name Connor has its origins in the Irish language, derived from the Gaelic "Conchobhar" or "Conchúr." This name dates back to ancient Celtic times and is composed of two elements: "con" meaning hound or wolf, and "cobhar" meaning desire or desire for victory. The name can be interpreted as "hound of desire" or "lover of wolves."

In Irish mythology, Conchobhar mac Nessa was a legendary king of Ulster in the 1st century AD, known for his role in the epic tale of the Táin Bó Cuailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley). This ancient text features prominently in the Irish literary tradition and has helped to keep the name Connor alive throughout the centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Connor dates back to the 7th century AD, when a Conchobhar mac Nessa was mentioned in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. Over the centuries, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Conchobhar, Conchúr, Conchobar, and Conor, before eventually settling on the modern English spelling of Connor.

Notable historical figures who bore the name Connor include Connor O'Brien (c. 1532-1583), an Irish prince and military leader who fought against English forces during the Tudor conquest of Ireland. Another prominent figure was Connor Maguire (c. 1616-1645), an Irish nobleman and soldier who played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

In more recent times, the name Connor has been carried by individuals such as Connor Cruise (born 1995), the son of actors Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and Connor McDavid (born 1997), a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Edmonton Oilers.

Other notable individuals named Connor throughout history include Connor O'Leary (c. 1786-1828), an Irish rebel and leader during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and Connor Randall (born 1995), an English professional footballer who currently plays for Hartlepool United.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Connor was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Connor, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Connor first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/connor-meaning-and-history/.

"Connor first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/connor-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Connor first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/connor-meaning-and-history/.

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