Conan
Say it: KOH-nan
BoyIrishMythologyMeans usually explained as "little hound"5 letters2 syllables
#232
in Ireland (2025)
#161 with spellings combined
30
babies in 2025
#143
best rank (2023)
676
babies since 1967
Up 45
10-year rank change
Conan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | #161 |
| 2024 | 23 | #203 |
| 2023 | 38 | #143 |
| 2022 | 26 | #195 |
| 2021 | 31 | #174 |
| 2020 | 36 | #155 |
| 2019 | 27 | #198 |
| 2018 | 16 | #280 |
| 2017 | 21 | #244 |
| 2016 | 28 | #201 |
| 2015 | 27 | #206 |
| 2014 | 16 | #286 |
| 2013 | 20 | #257 |
| 2012 | 11 | #354 |
| 2011 | 13 | #326 |
| 2010 | 18 | #269 |
| 2009 | 25 | #220 |
| 2008 | 17 | #267 |
| 2007 | 15 | #253 |
| 2006 | 17 | #222 |
| 2005 | 11 | #254 |
| 2004 | 17 | #192 |
| 2003 | 11 | #245 |
| 2002 | 8 | #267 |
| 2001 | 10 | #226 |
| 2000 | 9 | #223 |
| 1999 | 5 | #290 |
| 1998 | 7 | #229 |
| 1997 | 6 | #286 |
| 1996 | 10 | #223 |
| 1995 | 3 | #334 |
| 1994 | 5 | #263 |
| 1993 | 3 | #339 |
| 1992 | 3 | #337 |
| 1991 | 6 | #242 |
| 1990 | 9 | #208 |
| 1988 | 4 | #271 |
| 1987 | 11 | #190 |
| 1986 | 7 | #230 |
| 1985 | 11 | #185 |
| 1984 | 5 | #250 |
| 1983 | 8 | #214 |
| 1982 | 6 | #248 |
| 1981 | 3 | #322 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
| 1979 | 4 | #292 |
| 1978 | 5 | #255 |
| 1976 | 9 | #218 |
| 1975 | 3 | #321 |
| 1974 | 3 | #321 |
| 1973 | 4 | #290 |
| 1972 | 3 | #307 |
| 1970 | 5 | #251 |
| 1967 | 4 | #245 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Conan mean?
Usually explained as "little hound"
Irish Conán, from con- (hound) with the small ending -án.
Say it right
KOHnan
In Irish, spelled Conán, the first vowel is short, closer to KON-an.
The story of Conan
Conan is the English spelling of the Irish Conán. It is usually taken to be con-, from the word for a hound, with the small ending -án, so “little hound”. It is a very old name, found in ogham as well as in the medieval texts.
In the Fenian Cycle, Conán mac Morna is one of the Fianna, the war band of Fionn mac Cumhaill. The storytellers made him a comic figure, fat, bald and forever stirring up trouble, but also loyal and brave in a fight. Outside Ireland the name is best known as the middle name of Arthur Conan Doyle.
Conan has never been common in Ireland, but it has been climbing. Its best year was 2023, with 38 boys, when it was number 143 counting all spellings. The CSO lists Conan and Conán separately, and in 2025 Conan on its own was number 232 while the spellings together came to number 161. It is far more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 24 in 2024.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Conan (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Conán (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Conán mac Morna
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Conan | 20 | 595 |
| Conán | 10 | 66 |
| Cónan | under 3 | 12 |
| Cónán | under 3 | 3 |
In Northern Ireland
#61 in 2025 with 37 babies. Best rank #24 (2024); 919 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.