Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Conway
BoyWelsh, Irish· “from a Welsh place name”
- Meaning
- from a Welsh place name
- Origin
- Welsh, Irish
- Pronunciation
- KAHN-way
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,287
- US babies 2025
- 152
- Best rank
- #895 (1881)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Conway
Conway is a Welsh and Irish name that is usually said to mean “from a Welsh place name”.
Conway comes from a Welsh place name. The town and river known in Welsh as Conwy gave rise to the English form Conway, and the name became a surname in Wales and England. In Ireland, Conway also developed separately as an anglicized form of several Gaelic surnames, so families of both Welsh and Irish descent carry it. As a first name it belongs with surname choices like Callaway and Crawford, and it is said KAHN-way. Country music fans may think of Conway Twitty, the stage name of singer Harold Jenkins. Shortened to Con, it sounds friendly and a little old-school.
Popularity over time
Conway first appears in US Social Security records in 1881. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 4 different years, starting in 1881. Its best national rank was #895 in 1881, and the most babies received it in 2025, when 152 were named Conway. In 2025, 152 babies were named Conway, and it ranked #1,287 nationally. That is 176% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,331 in 1920, #1,709 in 1950, #2,985 in 1980, #7,568 in 2000, #4,134 in 2010, and #1,287 in 2025. Of the 2,921 US boys named Conway since records began, 20% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 453 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Rudra, Aryeh, Yunus, Ronen, and Amadeus.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Conway ranked highest in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Conway over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Conway is usually pronounced KAHN-way, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with C and ends in “-ay”.
Middle names for Conway
A few middle names that flow with Conway: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Conway
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Lists that include Conway
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Conway mean?
Conway is a Welsh and Irish name that is usually said to mean “from a Welsh place name”.
What is the origin of the name Conway?
Conway has Welsh and Irish roots. Conway comes from a Welsh place name.
Is Conway a popular name?
Not especially. Conway ranked #1,287 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Conway a boy or girl name?
Conway is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Conway over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Conway?
Conway is usually pronounced KAHN-way. 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