Conor
Say it: KON-ur
BoyIrishMythologyMeans usually explained as "lover of hounds"5 letters2 syllables
#16
in Ireland (2025)
#17 with spellings combined
211
babies in 2025
#1
best rank (1995)
28,393
babies since 1964
Down 13
10-year rank change
Conor through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 211 | #17 |
| 2024 | 210 | #19 |
| 2023 | 244 | #13 |
| 2022 | 275 | #14 |
| 2021 | 360 | #5 |
| 2020 | 345 | #8 |
| 2019 | 427 | #4 |
| 2018 | 489 | #4 |
| 2017 | 472 | #4 |
| 2016 | 558 | #3 |
| 2015 | 558 | #4 |
| 2014 | 581 | #4 |
| 2013 | 610 | #4 |
| 2012 | 639 | #5 |
| 2011 | 709 | #5 |
| 2010 | 726 | #5 |
| 2009 | 776 | #4 |
| 2008 | 857 | #3 |
| 2007 | 821 | #3 |
| 2006 | 731 | #3 |
| 2005 | 705 | #4 |
| 2004 | 736 | #3 |
| 2003 | 705 | #4 |
| 2002 | 748 | #4 |
| 2001 | 702 | #4 |
| 2000 | 700 | #3 |
| 1999 | 761 | #1 |
| 1998 | 761 | #1 |
| 1997 | 867 | #2 |
| 1996 | 811 | #1 |
| 1995 | 841 | #1 |
| 1994 | 712 | #3 |
| 1993 | 576 | #9 |
| 1992 | 641 | #9 |
| 1991 | 591 | #11 |
| 1990 | 460 | #17 |
| 1989 | 437 | #18 |
| 1988 | 420 | #19 |
| 1987 | 444 | #18 |
| 1986 | 370 | #24 |
| 1985 | 356 | #25 |
| 1984 | 337 | #30 |
| 1983 | 309 | #34 |
| 1982 | 315 | #36 |
| 1981 | 319 | #34 |
| 1980 | 299 | #38 |
| 1979 | 259 | #40 |
| 1978 | 224 | #44 |
| 1977 | 232 | #43 |
| 1976 | 210 | #49 |
| 1975 | 231 | #44 |
| 1974 | 199 | #50 |
| 1973 | 210 | #47 |
| 1972 | 171 | #52 |
| 1971 | 219 | #42 |
| 1970 | 162 | #45 |
| 1969 | 133 | #50 |
| 1968 | 150 | #43 |
| 1967 | 129 | #48 |
| 1966 | 138 | #47 |
| 1965 | 107 | #56 |
| 1964 | 97 | #56 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Conor mean?
Usually explained as "lover of hounds"
Irish, from Old Irish Conchobar, from cú (hound) and cobar (desiring).
Say it right
KONur
The story of Conor
Conor is the English spelling of the Irish Conchúr, from the Old Irish Conchobar. The name is usually explained as “lover of hounds”, from cú (hound) and cobar (desiring), though “lover of wolves” is sometimes suggested instead. Connor and Conner are other English spellings.
In the Ulster Cycle of Irish legend, Conchobar mac Nessa is king of Ulster, ruling from Emain Macha. He takes his name from his mother, Ness. In the best-known story he has Deirdre raised in secret so he can marry her, but she escapes with the warrior Naoise, and the king’s revenge brings sorrow to them all.
Conor was already well used in Ireland in 1964 and climbed steadily for three decades. It was number 1 in 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999, and its biggest year was 1997, with 867 boys. It has slipped since 2021 and was 17th in 2025 on the combined count. In Northern Ireland it was fourth in 1997.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Conor (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Conchobar (Old Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Conor
- Wikipedia: Conchobar mac Nessa
- Wikipedia: Deirdre
- 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
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Conor | 211 | 28,393 |
In Northern Ireland
#44 in 2025 with 43 babies. Best rank #4 (1997); 4,341 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.