What does Ronan mean?
Rónán means “little seal,” from the Irish rón.
What does Conor mean?
Conor, from Conchobhar, is usually read “lover of hounds” or “desiring.”
Ronan vs Conor
Which is more popular?
Ronan is more popular than Conor today: about 1,406 US babies were given the name Ronan in 2025, compared with 292 named Conor.
| Ronan | Conor | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Little seal | Lover of hounds |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ROH-nun | KON-er |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1959 | 1961 |
| Peak year | 2025 (1,406) | 1993 (1,250) |
| In 2025 | 1,406 | 292 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ronan
Conor
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ronan | Conor |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7,749 | 3,021 |
| 2010s | 9,092 | 6,939 |
| 2000s | 3,343 | 5,938 |
| 1990s | 322 | 8,244 |
| 1980s | 84 | 2,676 |
| 1970s | 32 | 482 |
| 1960s | 47 | 80 |
| 1950s | 10 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ronan or Conor more popular?
Ronan is more popular than Conor today: about 1,406 US babies were given the name Ronan in 2025, compared with 292 named Conor.
What is the difference between Ronan and Conor?
Ronan means Little seal (Irish origin), while Conor means Lover of hounds (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Ronan or Conor?
In US records, Ronan first appears in 1959 and Conor in 1961, so Ronan has the longer recorded history.