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The short answer
Connor is a masculine name of Irish origin. Behind the Name defines it as a "variant of Conor, based on the usual spelling of the surname that is derived from the name", and says it "is currently the most common way of spelling it in the English-speaking world, apart from Ireland". The entry traces the name to the roots cú and cobar, whose glosses are documented on the Conor entry rather than here. It is pronounced KAHN-ər. Its deeper history runs back through Old Irish Conchobar, a name of Irish mythology. In the United States it ranked #166 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Connor as a "variant of Conor", explaining that the double-n spelling follows the usual spelling of the surname derived from the name, and that Connor is now the most common spelling in the English-speaking world outside Ireland. The roots field lists cú + cobar; their meanings are not stated on the Connor entry and are not asserted here. Variants listed are Conchúr and Conor (Irish) and Conner and Konnor (English). The other-languages list connects the name to Conchobar, Conchobhar, Conchúr and Conor in Irish mythology and Conchobar in Old Irish.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Irish | Conor | parent form of Connor (Behind the Name) |
| Old Irish | cú + cobar | roots recorded by Behind the Name; glosses not verified in this pass |
| Old Irish | Conchobar | older form of the name, used in Irish mythology |
Popularity
Connor ranked #166 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #166 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Con
Variants: Conor, Conchúr, Conner, Konnor
Related names: Conchobar, Conchobhar
What the name feels like
Connor is an Irish name that has become fully at home in English: two easy syllables, a solid consonant frame and no pronunciation trap. It feels friendly and sporty rather than antique, and the surname-style double n is part of why it reads as modern even though the name behind it is ancient.
Style tags: Irish, two syllables, surname spelling, modern classic
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. The nickname Con is a natural short form rather than a diminutive documented on the Behind the Name entry.
If you like this name
Names that share Connor's Irish roots or its two-syllable sound.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Connor mean?
Connor is a variant of the Irish name Conor, according to Behind the Name, which traces it to the roots cú and cobar. The glosses of those roots are documented on the Conor entry.
Connor or Conor: which spelling is correct?
Both are used. Behind the Name says Connor follows the usual spelling of the surname and is now the most common spelling in the English-speaking world apart from Ireland, where Conor is the traditional form.
Is Connor a popular name?
Connor ranked #166 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Connor — supports variant of Conor, spelling history, roots, variants, related mythological forms.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
