Connor is a name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Conchobhar," which means "hound or strong-willed warrior." The name has been popular in Ireland for centuries and was borne by several high kings of Connacht, one of the four provinces of Ireland.
The most famous bearer of the name Connor is likely Saint Conan, a 6th-century Irish abbot who founded a monastery on the island of Innisfallen in County Kerry. According to legend, Saint Conan was known for his holiness and miracles, and he became revered as a saint after his death.
In literature, the name Connor has been used by several notable authors, including American writer Stephen King, who named one of the main characters in his 1986 horror novel "It" after the name. Additionally, British author J.K. Rowling included a character named Connor in her popular Harry Potter series.
Today, Connor is a popular given name for boys both in Ireland and around the world. It has consistently ranked among the top names for boys in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Despite its popularity, however, the name remains strongly associated with Irish culture and heritage.
The name Connor has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over the years in the United States. From 1913 to 1947, there were fewer than 10 births per year with this name. However, beginning in the late 1940s and early 1950s, we start seeing a steady increase in the number of babies named Connor.
From 1968 onwards, the trend of naming children Connor begins to rise more rapidly. The most significant jump occurred between 1977 and 1978, where there were only 25 births with this name in 1977 but an impressive 57 in 1978.
This upward trajectory continued throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. The peak of popularity for the name Connor occurred in 2003 with 9670 births that year. This popularity persisted until around 2015, after which we see a slight decline.
As of 2022, the popularity of the name Connor has continued to decrease, with only 2855 babies named Connor at birth in the United States. Despite this recent decrease in popularity, over the past century, Connor has undoubtedly been one of the most popular names for boys in America.
It's interesting to note that while Connor was not commonly used as a given name before the mid-20th century, it was used occasionally as a surname throughout history. It is possible that the increased usage of Connor as a first name may have been influenced by its historic use as a family name.