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Connor

Boy name · 9,855 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Connor: 9,855 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 663 births in 1996.

First appearing as an anglicised form of the Irish name Conchobhar, Connor means “lover of hounds” or “wolf-lover”, rooted in the ancient Gaelic words *cú* (hound) and *dobhar* (water, or sometimes interpreted as “desire”). It’s a name with deep ties to Celtic mythology: Conchobhar mac Nessa was the legendary king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle. In modern times, Connor has been borne by mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor (who uses the alternate spelling) and ice hockey captain Connor McDavid, while the name also features prominently in the popular *Terminator* franchise as the heroic John Connor. Though not tied to a specific place, the name’s strong sound has made it consistently popular in Scotland since the 1970s. A common variant is Conor, which is the standard Irish spelling and remains equally well-loved across the British Isles.