Connor
/ˈkɑn.əɹ/
The name Connor is the anglicized form of the Irish Conchobhar, a compound traditionally interpreted as “lover of hounds” or “hound desirer,” from the Old Irish elements con, the genitive of cú meaning hound, and cobhar, desire.
In early Irish society the hound was a symbol of nobility and warrior virtue, and many heroic names share the con- element, including Conan and the legendary Cú Chulainn. The form Conchobar is attested in Old Irish manuscripts from the 8th century.
The most famous bearer in Irish legend is Conchobar mac Nessa, the king of Ulster at the time of the Ulster Cycle, whose court at Emain Macha hosts the heroic exploits recounted in the Táin Bó Cúailnge, the great Irish epic preserved in the
What the name Connor means
12th-century Book of the Dun Cow.
Conchobar is the king who fosters Cú Chulainn, weds the tragic Deirdre, and reigns over a court of warriors known as the Red Branch.
The name was borne by several historical kings of Connacht, including Conchobar mac Donnchada Mid, High King of Ireland in the 9th century.
The name passed into modern Irish use through both noble and ecclesiastical lines, and as the surname O’Connor (Ó Conchobhair) it became attached to one of the great Gaelic dynasties of Connacht, which produced 2 High Kings of Ireland in the 12th
century.
Frank O’Connor (born Michael O’Donovan, 1903-1966) was one of the masters of the modern short story; Sandra Day O’Connor served as the first female justice of the US Supreme Court.
Connor entered the US Social Security top 1000 in 1981 and climbed dramatically through the 1990s, peaking at No. 38 in 2004.
The 1986 Highlander film franchise, whose hero is Connor MacLeod, helped seed the name in American pop culture; the 2008 film Terminator Salvation reinforced it through the John Connor character.
The variant Conor remains the more common spelling in Ireland, where it has held a steady place in the top 30 for decades.
Contemporary bearers include the Irish UFC fighter Conor McGregor, the country singer Connor Smith, and the British actor Connor Swindells.
After a high-water mark in the mid-2000s, Connor has settled in the comfortable middle of the US top 200, retaining its Celtic resonance without ever feeling exotic.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Connor
Connor - similar names
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