Conner peaked in 2005, ranks #783, and has 56,111 SSA records. It's the alternative spelling of Connor — one of the most successful Irish names in American naming history — with a slightly different visual presentation that puts the shared -ner ending in a different visual relationship with the opening consonants.
Irish Heritage, Two Spellings
Connor derives from the Irish Conchobhar, which scholars typically interpret as meaning "lover of hounds" or possibly "high-will" — the exact etymology is debated. The name was borne by Conchobar mac Nessa, the legendary king of Ulster in Irish mythology, and was enormously popular in medieval Ireland. Its anglicized forms Connor and Conner both appear in American SSA data, with Connor being the more common choice by a significant margin. The Conner spelling draws on a more English-surname-style visual pattern.
The Peak and the Plateau
Conner's 2005 peak corresponds with Connor's broader surge through the late 1990s and 2000s, when Irish-origin names dominated American naming charts. Finn, Declan, Liam, and Connor all rose together in that wave. The specific Conner spelling peaked slightly after the primary Connor form, suggesting it was catching secondary interest. At 56,111 total SSA records, it's a name with real generational presence — which means today's Conner has peers from the same name generation, just with different spellings.
Which Spelling to Choose
For parents drawn to this name, the choice between Connor and Conner is primarily about spelling preference , the pronunciation is identical. Connor reads as more traditionally Irish; Conner reads as more surname-derived. Both will encounter the other spelling regularly. If spelling simplicity is a priority, /compare shows Connor's dominance in overall usage, which means Conner families will spend more time specifying the spelling. The name itself, regardless of spelling, remains strong and legible.