Connor
Say it: KON-or
BoyIrishMythologyMeans usually explained as "lover of hounds"6 letters2 syllables
#829
in Ireland (2025)
#787 with spellings combined
3
babies in 2025
#71
best rank (1998)
1,681
babies since 1965
Down 607
10-year rank change
Connor through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | #787 |
| 2024 | 13 | #293 |
| 2023 | 9 | #388 |
| 2022 | 15 | #285 |
| 2021 | 16 | #270 |
| 2020 | 20 | #237 |
| 2019 | 18 | #254 |
| 2018 | 22 | #238 |
| 2017 | 15 | #296 |
| 2016 | 16 | #283 |
| 2015 | 33 | #180 |
| 2014 | 29 | #203 |
| 2013 | 31 | #197 |
| 2012 | 43 | #156 |
| 2011 | 51 | #137 |
| 2010 | 56 | #137 |
| 2009 | 62 | #121 |
| 2008 | 56 | #134 |
| 2007 | 57 | #117 |
| 2006 | 65 | #95 |
| 2005 | 51 | #109 |
| 2004 | 75 | #83 |
| 2003 | 80 | #76 |
| 2002 | 61 | #90 |
| 2001 | 48 | #102 |
| 2000 | 38 | #121 |
| 1999 | 42 | #108 |
| 1998 | 69 | #71 |
| 1997 | 46 | #109 |
| 1996 | 40 | #122 |
| 1995 | 30 | #136 |
| 1994 | 36 | #123 |
| 1993 | 26 | #142 |
| 1992 | 20 | #159 |
| 1991 | 22 | #151 |
| 1990 | 19 | #161 |
| 1989 | 11 | #184 |
| 1988 | 17 | #160 |
| 1987 | 16 | #166 |
| 1986 | 14 | #172 |
| 1985 | 15 | #166 |
| 1984 | 18 | #156 |
| 1983 | 10 | #202 |
| 1982 | 22 | #150 |
| 1981 | 21 | #159 |
| 1980 | 15 | #184 |
| 1979 | 18 | #162 |
| 1978 | 18 | #163 |
| 1977 | 10 | #208 |
| 1976 | 13 | #190 |
| 1975 | 11 | #204 |
| 1974 | 23 | #147 |
| 1973 | 13 | #191 |
| 1972 | 17 | #158 |
| 1971 | 14 | #174 |
| 1970 | 10 | #191 |
| 1969 | 8 | #206 |
| 1968 | 9 | #177 |
| 1967 | 9 | #176 |
| 1966 | 8 | #177 |
| 1965 | 8 | #170 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Connor mean?
Usually explained as "lover of hounds"
Irish, an English spelling of Conchobhar, from Old Irish Conchobar.
Say it right
KONor
The story of Connor
Connor is one English spelling of the Irish name Conchobhar, or Conchúr in modern Irish. The Old Irish Conchobar is usually explained as “lover of hounds”, from cú, hound, though some read it as “lover of wolves”. The surname O’Connor comes from the same root, meaning a descendant of Conchúr.
The most famous bearer is Conchobar mac Nessa, the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of tales, who rules at Emain Macha near Armagh. He appears in the stories of Cú Chulainn and in the sad tale of Deirdre, who flees from him with her lover Naoise.
In Ireland the single-n spelling Conor has always been far more common, and the CSO counts the two spellings separately. Connor has been given throughout the CSO records and reached number 71 in 1998. It did even better in Northern Ireland, at number 35 in 1998. Only 3 boys were registered as Connor in the Republic in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Connor (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Connor (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Con
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Connor | 3 | 1,681 |
In Northern Ireland
#237 in 2025 with 8 babies. Best rank #35 (1998); 1,224 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.