UK boy's name
Connal
A masculine name of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning "firm" or "strong".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Connal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Connal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3134, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 7 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1996 to 2001. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 57 living people in the UK are called Connal. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Connal ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 7 boys were registered as Connal.
- • Connal ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #704 in 2018.
- • About 57 living people in the UK are estimated to have Connal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3134
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
7 births
Estimated living
57
2026
Meaning
What does Connal mean?
The name Connal is derived from the Gaelic language, which has its roots in ancient Celtic cultures. It is believed to have originated in Scotland and Ireland during the Middle Ages, around the 5th to 10th centuries AD.
Connal is a combination of two Gaelic words: "conn," meaning wisdom or reason, and "val," meaning rule or reign. Thus, the name Connal can be interpreted as "wise ruler" or "one who rules with wisdom." This name was likely bestowed upon individuals who were respected for their intelligence, leadership abilities, and fair governance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Connal dates back to the 6th century AD, when a Scottish king known as Connal Cerr ruled over the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada. Connal Cerr is mentioned in various historical accounts and medieval Irish annals, such as the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of Tigernach.
Another notable Connal from history was Connal mac Taidg, an Irish king who ruled over the Kingdom of Connacht in the 7th century AD. He is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, a renowned chronicle of medieval Irish history.
In the 12th century, a Scottish noble named Connal of Atholl was a prominent figure during the reign of King William the Lion. Connal of Atholl played a significant role in the political and military affairs of Scotland during that era.
Moving forward in time, Connal Ballagh was a 16th-century Irish chieftain from the O'Rourke dynasty in County Leitrim, Ireland. He is remembered for his bravery and resistance against English colonization efforts in the region.
Furthermore, Connal Gulban, a 17th-century Scottish Highlander, was a renowned warrior and clan chief from the Isle of Skye. He is celebrated in traditional Scottish folklore and ballads for his valor and leadership during times of conflict.
While the name Connal has its roots in ancient Celtic cultures, it has transcended its geographical origins and has been adopted by various cultures around the world, albeit with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Connal over time
The chart below shows babies named Connal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Connal, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2001, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Connal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Connal was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #2818 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #1585 | 14 | 2 |
Geography
Where Connal is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Connal. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Connal ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #704 in 2018.
Across the UK
Connal in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#704 in 2018
11 years of NRS records, 37 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Connal
-
Connal Trueman
association football player
English association football player
1996-
Related
Names similar to Connal
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Connal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Connal in the UK right now?
In 2001, Connal was ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Connal most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 7 babies registered as Connal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Connal?
A masculine name of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning "firm" or "strong".
How many people are called Connal in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Connal across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 37 more in Scotland.
Where is Connal most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Connal ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #704 in 2018. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.