Conrad
/ˈkɑn.ɹæd/
Conrad derives from the Old High German elements kuoni (“brave, bold”) and rad (“counsel”), producing the compound meaning “brave counsel.” The name was common among German-speaking nobility.
Four German kings bore the name Konrad between the 10th and 13th centuries. In English, the C-spelling Conrad became standard after the Norman period.
Conrad peaked at No. 213 in 1931 with 584 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 469 with 654 births, surpassing its historical peak in raw numbers.
What the name Conrad means
Author Joseph Conrad (Heart of Darkness) and hotelier Conrad Hilton gave the name literary and commercial prestige. It appears in numerous European royal genealogies.
Two syllables - KON-rad - are crisp and distinguished. The hard consonants and short vowels project confidence and decisiveness.
Parents drawn to strong Germanic names - Klaus, Otto, Fritz - find Conrad more accessible in English while retaining the same central European gravitas.
Its 2024 count of 654 births shows a genuine modern resurgence. Conrad belongs to the wave of vintage European names reclaiming American nurseries.
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 Conrad
Conrad - similar names
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