Conway Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KON-way //ˈkɒn.weɪ//
Origin: Irish; Welsh
Meaning: Irish: 'hound of the plain'; Welsh: 'holy'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Conway has its roots in the Welsh language, deriving from the elements "con" meaning "hound" or "wolf" and "wy" meaning "water" or "river." This etymological background suggests a meaning akin to "hound by the river" or "wolf by the water." The name is believed to have originated from the geographical features of Wales, particularly associated with the River Conwy, which flows through the region. The transition of the name into English occurred during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Welsh names were adopted and adapted into the English language, often retaining their original meanings but undergoing phonetic changes.
Historically, the name Conway is associated with notable figures and places. One significant milestone is the establishment of Conwy Castle in the late 13th century, built by Edward I as part of his campaign to conquer Wales.
This castle, along with the town of Conwy, became emblematic of Welsh heritage and resistance. Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and records, including the Domesday Book, which documents land ownership and settlements in England following the Norman invasion.
The name has also been borne by various local leaders and figures throughout Welsh history, reinforcing its cultural significance. Culturally, the name Conway resonates with themes of strength and connection to nature, reflecting the rugged landscapes of Wales.
It has been used in literature and folklore, often symbolizing resilience and loyalty, traits associated with the hound or wolf. The name's association with water further emphasizes its ties to the natural world, which has been a source of inspiration in Welsh mythology and storytelling.
While diminutive forms such as "Con" may exist, the name Conway itself has maintained a strong historical presence, symbolizing a rich cultural heritage that continues to be recognized.
Famous people named Conway
In this section, you will find notable people named Conway. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Conway who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Conway who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Conway Twitty was a country music singer best known for Hello Darlin', It's Only Make Believe, and Tight Fittin' Jeans.
Conway the Machine is a rapper best known for his work with Griselda Records and albums like From King to a God and God Don't Make Mistakes.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Conway, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Conway. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Conway was first seen in the United States in 1881.
Conway has ranked as high as #1245 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Minnesota.
In the past 5 years the name Conway has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Conway is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Conway was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Conway (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 15 | |
| NC | 8 | |
| CA | 7 | |
| LA | 6 | |
| TN | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Conway.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 115 |
| 2023 | 101 |
| 2022 | 81 |
| 2021 | 68 |
| 2020 | 71 |
| 2019 | 62 |
| 2018 | 68 |
| 2017 | 52 |
| 2016 | 64 |
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2012 | 29 |
| 2011 | 26 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2009 | 23 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 1999 | 14 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1997 | 15 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1994 | 21 |
| 1993 | 13 |
| 1992 | 12 |
| 1991 | 7 |
| 1990 | 13 |
| 1989 | 10 |
| 1988 | 7 |
| 1986 | 16 |
| 1985 | 11 |
| 1984 | 11 |
| 1983 | 14 |
| 1982 | 12 |
| 1981 | 10 |
| 1980 | 15 |
| 1979 | 16 |
| 1978 | 15 |
| 1977 | 19 |
| 1976 | 14 |
| 1975 | 26 |
| 1974 | 12 |
| 1973 | 16 |
| 1972 | 20 |
| 1971 | 24 |
| 1970 | 19 |
| 1969 | 14 |
| 1968 | 15 |
| 1967 | 8 |
| 1966 | 15 |
| 1965 | 19 |
| 1964 | 21 |
| 1963 | 17 |
| 1962 | 15 |
| 1961 | 23 |
| 1960 | 23 |
| 1959 | 17 |
| 1958 | 18 |
| 1957 | 15 |
| 1956 | 21 |
| 1955 | 15 |
| 1954 | 18 |
| 1953 | 24 |
| 1952 | 15 |
| 1951 | 19 |
| 1950 | 19 |
| 1949 | 18 |
| 1948 | 19 |
| 1947 | 18 |
| 1946 | 26 |
| 1945 | 27 |
| 1944 | 13 |
| 1943 | 25 |
| 1942 | 14 |
| 1941 | 16 |
| 1940 | 18 |
| 1939 | 21 |
| 1938 | 21 |
| 1937 | 17 |
| 1936 | 14 |
| 1935 | 27 |
| 1934 | 19 |
| 1933 | 26 |
| 1932 | 19 |
| 1931 | 36 |
| 1930 | 21 |
| 1929 | 35 |
| 1928 | 29 |
| 1927 | 41 |
| 1926 | 36 |
| 1925 | 35 |
| 1924 | 56 |
| 1923 | 32 |
| 1922 | 37 |
| 1921 | 35 |
| 1920 | 30 |
| 1919 | 27 |
| 1918 | 30 |
| 1917 | 25 |
| 1916 | 27 |
| 1915 | 23 |
| 1914 | 15 |
| 1913 | 14 |
| 1912 | 9 |
| 1911 | 6 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1907 | 6 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1902 | 7 |
| 1901 | 5 |
| 1890 | 6 |
| 1881 | 5 |