UK boy's name
Conner
A Gaelic name meaning "lover of hounds" or "hound lover.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Conner is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Conner popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 301 births.
This profile covers 2,732 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 2% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 3,327 living people in the UK are called Conner. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Conner ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 301 boys were registered as Conner.
- • Conner ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #703 in 2022.
- • About 3,327 living people in the UK are estimated to have Conner as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
1998
301 births
Estimated living
3,327
2026
Meaning
What does Conner mean?
The given name Conner has its origins in the Gaelic language, tracing its roots back to ancient Celtic cultures from the British Isles. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "con," meaning wisdom or reason, and "nar," meaning man or warrior. Thus, Conner can be interpreted as a wise or rational man or warrior.
This name was prevalent in Ireland and Scotland during the Middle Ages, often associated with noble families or clans. It is believed to have been first recorded in written form in the 11th century, appearing in ancient Irish and Scottish manuscripts.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Conner was Conner O'Reilly, an Irish chieftain who lived in the 14th century and was known for his military prowess and leadership during the Norman invasions of Ireland.
In the 16th century, Conner Maguire, an Irish lord and leader of the Maguire clan, played a significant role in the Nine Years' War against the English forces, showcasing his bravery and strategic skills.
During the 17th century, Conner O'Driscoll, an Irish soldier and commander, gained recognition for his involvement in the Confederate Wars, fighting alongside the Catholic Irish Confederates against the English Parliamentarian forces.
In Scotland, Conner Macleod, a renowned warrior and chieftain of the Macleod clan, was celebrated for his valor and leadership in the 15th century, particularly during the clan battles and conflicts of the time.
Another notable figure with the name Conner was Conner Rooney, an Irish-American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and played a crucial role in the Battle of Trenton in 1776, earning him recognition for his bravery and service.
While the name Conner has deep historical roots and significance, particularly in Irish and Scottish cultures, it has also been embraced and adopted across various regions and cultures over time, carrying with it the connotations of wisdom, rationality, and valor.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Conner over time
The chart below shows babies named Conner registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Conner, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 301 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Conner by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Conner 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2767 | 38 | 5 |
| 2010s | #951 | 441 | 10 |
| 2000s | #283 | 1,268 | 10 |
| 1990s | #147 | 985 | 4 |
Geography
Where Conner is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Conner. 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.
Conner ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #703 in 2022.
Across the UK
Conner in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#703 in 2022
33 years of NRS records, 628 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Conner
-
Conner Duthie
association football player
association football player (born 1997)
1997-
-
Conner McGlinchey
association football player; association football coach
Scottish professional footballer (born 1993)
1993-
-
Conner Reeves
singer-songwriter
British singer-songwriter
1972-
Related
Names similar to Conner
- 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
Conner: questions and answers
How popular is the name Conner in the UK right now?
In 2024, Conner was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Conner most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 301 babies registered as Conner in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Conner?
A Gaelic name meaning "lover of hounds" or "hound lover.".
How many people are called Conner in the UK?
A total of 2,732 babies have been registered as Conner across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 628 more in Scotland.
Where is Conner most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Conner ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #703 in 2022. 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.