Conor

Boy Name #709 Most Popular Steady 2 Syllables

An ancient Irish king name worn by modern champions

Irish Scottish English American

Classic Strong Traditional Earthy Bold

Meaning & Origin

"lover of hounds, hound-desiring"

Origin: Old Irish

Language: Irish

"wolf lover"

Origin: Proto-Celtic

Language: Irish

The Story of Conor

Conor (also spelled Connor or Conner) is an Anglicization of the Old Irish Conchobar, composed of con meaning hound or wolf and cobhar meaning desiring, suggesting the meaning lover of hounds or much-desiring. In Irish mythology, Conchobar mac Nessa was the legendary King of Ulster whose story is central to the Ulster Cycle, the greatest body of Irish heroic literature. The name has been in continuous use in Ireland for over a thousand years.

Conor and its variants (Connor, Conner) have been among the most popular Irish names globally since the 1990s, riding a wave of Celtic name popularity. Conor McGregor's global fame from the 2010s brought new attention to this specific Irish spelling. In Ireland itself, Conor is perennially in the top 20.

The name is rooted in the heroic Ulster Cycle where Conchobar was the legendary king who raised the hero Cu Chulainn. The name represents the highest traditions of Irish heroic culture. It is one of the oldest continuously used Irish names, representing authentic Gaelic heritage without being inaccessible to English speakers.

Fun Facts

Conchobar mac Nessa was the legendary King of Ulster in the Irish mythological Ulster Cycle
Conor McGregor became the first UFC fighter to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously in 2016
The name has been used in Ireland since at least the 10th century, making it over 1,000 years old in documented use

Conor in Other Languages

Irish Conchobar

French Conor

English Connor

Spanish Conor

Scottish Gaelic Conchobhar

Famous People Named Conor

Conor McGregor

Athlete

1988

Irish mixed martial artist and former UFC double champion, one of the biggest sports stars of the 2010s

Conor Oberst

Musician

1980

American singer-songwriter and founder of Bright Eyes, known as a voice of indie folk music

Conchobar mac Nessa Fictional

Other

Legendary King of Ulster in Irish mythology, foster-father of the hero Cu Chulainn

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #709
Total SSA Count: 376
Cultural Origins: Irish Scottish English American
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Common Nicknames

Con

Pairs Well With

Conor James Conor Patrick Conor Michael Conor Sean Conor Finn Conor Daniel Conor Joseph

Sibling Names

Declan Ronan Aoife Saoirse Fionn Ciara Niamh

Also a Girl Name

Conor is also used as a girl name, ranked #31677.

View Conor as a girl name →

Similar Names

Clifford Turner Konrad Tanner Conner Conan Kenan Honor

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Frequently Asked Questions About Conor

What does the name Conor mean?

"lover of hounds, hound-desiring" (from Old Irish). "wolf lover" (from Proto-Celtic). Conor (also spelled Connor or Conner) is an Anglicization of the Old Irish Conchobar, composed of con meaning hound or wolf and cobhar meaning desiring, suggesting the meaning lover of hounds or much-desiring. In Irish mythology, Conchobar mac Nessa was the legendary King of Ulster whose story is central to the Ulster Cycle, the greatest body of Irish heroic literature. The name has been in continuous use in Ireland for over a thousand years.

What is the origin of the name Conor?

Conor has Old Irish, Proto-Celtic, Irish, Scottish, English, and American origins. In Old Irish, it means "lover of hounds, hound-desiring". In Proto-Celtic, it means "wolf lover".

Is Conor a boy or girl name?

Conor is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #709. As a girl name, it is ranked #31677. Conor is more commonly used as a boy name.

How popular is the name Conor?

Conor is currently ranked #709 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Conor?

Common nicknames for Conor include Con.

What are good middle names for Conor?

Popular middle name pairings include Conor James, Conor Patrick, Conor Michael, Conor Sean, Conor Finn, Conor Daniel, and Conor Joseph.

What are good sibling names for Conor?

Names that pair well with Conor as siblings include Declan, Ronan, Aoife, Saoirse, Fionn, Ciara, and Niamh.

How many syllables does Conor have?

Conor has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Conor a common or rare name?

Conor is moderately common, ranked #709 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.

About the Name Conor

Conor is a boy name with Irish, Scottish, English, and American origins . The name means "lover of hounds, hound-desiring" in Old Irish .

Is Conor a boy or girl name? Conor is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #709 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #31,677. Conor is more commonly used as a boy name.

Conor is currently ranked #709 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Conor has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Conor include Con. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.