Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Conan
BoyIrish· “little hound”
- Meaning
- little hound
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- KOH-nuhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,678
- US babies 2025
- 98
- Best rank
- #1,087 (1972)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Conan
Conan is an Irish name that means “little hound”.
Conan is an old Irish name, from Conán, usually explained as little hound or little wolf, built on the Irish cú, hound, with a diminutive ending. Hounds carried ideas of loyalty and courage in early Irish culture, and a Conán appears among the warriors of the Fenian Cycle, where he is often cast as a boastful troublemaker. Breton and Welsh traditions have their own Conan figures. In modern times the name is linked with Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, and with Robert E. Howard's fictional Conan the Barbarian. It is said KOH-nuhn and feels sturdy and brief.
Popularity over time
Conan first appears in US Social Security records in 1923. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,087 in 1972, and the most babies received it in 2025, when 98 were named Conan. In 2025, 98 babies were named Conan, and it ranked #1,678 nationally. That is 69% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #3,387 in 1950, #1,261 in 1980, #3,322 in 2000, #3,188 in 2010, and #1,678 in 2025. Of the 2,438 US boys named Conan since records began, 20% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 470 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Baylen, Adonai, Viggo, Giorgio, and Xion.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Conan ranked highest in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #792 | 7 |
| Pennsylvania | #1125 | 6 |
| Illinois | #1156 | 6 |
| North Carolina | #1173 | 6 |
| California | #1525 | 11 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Conan is usually pronounced KOH-nuhn, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with C and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Conan
A few middle names that flow with Conan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Conan
Similar names
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Lists that include Conan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Conan mean?
Conan is an Irish name that means “little hound”.
What is the origin of the name Conan?
Conan has Irish roots. Conan is an old Irish name, from Conán, usually explained as little hound or little wolf, built on the Irish cú, hound, with a diminutive ending.
Is Conan a popular name?
Not especially. Conan ranked #1,678 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Conan a boy or girl name?
Conan is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Conan?
Conan is usually pronounced KOH-nuhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings