Konway
A name of uncertain origin and meaning, potentially related to the Welsh word "conwy" (meaning "chief, leader").
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Konway. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Konway today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Konway births was 2024 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Konway. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Konway. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2024
7 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,429
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Konway: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Konway from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Konway by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Konway during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Konway
The name Konway is believed to have originated from the ancient Germanic language group, with roots dating back to the early Middle Ages. The name is thought to be derived from the Old Germanic word "kun," meaning "brave" or "bold," and the word "weg," meaning "path" or "way." Essentially, the name Konway could be interpreted as "the brave one's path" or "the bold journey."
In ancient Germanic folklore and legends, there are several references to characters with names similar to Konway, often portrayed as courageous warriors or adventurers embarking on epic journeys. One such example can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a renowned German epic poem from the 13th century, which features a character named Konrad, sharing a similar root to Konway.
The earliest recorded use of the name Konway dates back to the 11th century, when it appeared in various monastic records and chronicles across central and northern Europe. During this period, the name was primarily associated with nobility and members of the warrior class.
One of the earliest notable figures to bear the name Konway was Konway the Bold (c. 1050-1112), a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Konway the Bold was renowned for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
Another prominent individual with the name was Konway of Marburg (c. 1180-1233), a German Catholic priest and philosopher who played a significant role in the Inquisition against heresy in the Holy Roman Empire. He was known for his zealous pursuit of those he deemed to be heretics.
In the 14th century, Konway of Falkenau (c. 1320-1388) was a Czech alchemist and philosopher who made notable contributions to the study of alchemy and the pursuit of the philosopher's stone. His writings and theories influenced many scholars of his time.
During the Renaissance period, Konway Cuttler (c. 1470-1522) was an English poet and playwright renowned for his satirical works and witty verses. His plays were often performed at the court of Henry VIII.
In the realm of exploration, Konway Hawkins (c. 1595-1662) was an English navigator and privateer who made several voyages to the West Indies and the Caribbean Sea. He was known for his daring exploits and encounters with Spanish fleets in the region.
People
Konway + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Konway as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Konway: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Konway?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Konway going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Konway a common name?
We classify Konway as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Konway most popular?
The single biggest year for Konway was 2024, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Konway is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Konway in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Konway a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Konway in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Konway still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Konway in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Konway can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Konway?
See how many people share the name Konway on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.