Connor is a name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Cónchobhar," which means "lover of hounds" or "desirous of a wolf dog." The name has been popular among the Irish for centuries and was even borne by several important historical figures in Ireland, such as Connor of the Battleaxe, a High King of Ireland who reigned during the 12th century.
The popularity of the name Connor has spread beyond Ireland, however, and it is now widely used throughout the English-speaking world. In recent years, it has become particularly popular in countries like the United States and England, where it often appears in the top ten list of boys' names.
Connor has also been featured prominently in literature and popular culture. For instance, it was the name chosen for the protagonist of the video game series "Assassin's Creed," as well as the title character in the British soap opera "Emmerdale." These portrayals may have contributed to its rising popularity among parents naming their children.
Despite its growing international recognition, Connor remains deeply rooted in Irish culture and history. Its strong meaning and appealing sound continue to attract parents seeking a distinctive name for their sons that also has a touch of tradition behind it.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Connor has seen significant popularity and fluctuations over time in the United States.
In the early years, from 1980 to 1989, there were relatively few births with the name Connor. The highest number during this period was 15 births in 1989.
However, starting from 1991, we see a significant increase in the popularity of the name Connor. That year alone saw 54 births compared to previous years' single-digit numbers. This marked the beginning of a decade where Connor was among the top names given to newborns in the U.S.
From 1992 to 1997, the number of births with the name Connor continued to rise steadily. The peak was reached in 1997 with 133 births, indicating that Connor was one of the most popular boy's names during this period.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a slight decrease in popularity, with the number of births fluctuating between 40 and 67 annually. However, it remained consistently within the double digits until 2005 when there were only 29 births.
From 2006 onwards, the popularity of the name Connor continued to decline steadily over time, reaching a low of 13 births in 2011. However, since then, there has been some recovery in its popularity, with numbers slowly increasing from 18 births in 2009 up to 25 births in 2018.
In the most recent years provided (2020-2023), the name Connor's popularity seems to have stabilized within a range of mid-teens to low-twenties births annually.
Overall, while Connor has had periods of high and low popularity throughout these decades, it remains a consistently chosen name for newborn boys in the United States.