All about the name

Conan

Male

« The name Conan is of Irish origin and means "hound warrior" or "wolf-like". It comes from the ancient Irish given name Cú Chulainn, who was a legendary figure in Celtic mythology known for his great strength, courage, and skill as a warrior. »

#1900 last year

Meaning, origin, history

The name Conan is of Irish origin and means "hound warrior" or "wolf like". It comes from the ancient Irish given name Cú Chulainn, which was a legendary figure in Celtic mythology known for his great strength, courage, and skill as a warrior. Conan is derived from the Old Irish word "cú", meaning "hound", and "Chulainn", which means "of Culann". In the legend, Cú Chulainn was born as Setanta, but he earned his new name after killing Culann's fearsome hound. He then offered to become a substitute guard dog for Culann, hence becoming known as "Cú Chulainn". The name Conan became popular in English-speaking countries during the 20th century, likely due to its use in literature and media. It was made famous by the character Conan the Barbarian created by writer Robert E. Howard in the 1930s, who went on to become a central figure in sword and sorcery fantasy stories. In addition, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes, has a connection to the name Conan through his middle name. While it is not explicitly stated in the stories, some sources suggest that Doyle intended for Holmes' full name to be Sherlock Conan Holmes, although he ultimately dropped the middle name. Overall, the name Conan carries a strong and powerful meaning with its roots in ancient Irish mythology. Its popularity has been influenced by literary and media figures throughout history, making it a recognizable and memorable choice for a given name.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Conan since 1880

Total births
2,264
Total since 1880
Peak year
2023
83 births
in 2023
83
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
+46%
vs previous 5 years