Fun Facts About the Name Conway
- More than 2 thousand babies named Conway: U.S. records list 2,932 babies given the name Conway from 1880 through 2025. Even 11 girls received the name Conway - about 1 girl for every 266 boys.
What Does the Name Conway Mean?
Conway is a Welsh and English surname, and later a given name, taken from the River Conwy in North Wales. In this origin it means "one from Conwy" or "from the River Conwy." The river is called Afon Conwy in Welsh, and the town of Conwy grew up at its mouth. The meaning of the river name itself is not fully settled. The second element is often connected with Welsh gwy, a river-name element meaning "water" (also seen in the Wye, Welsh Gwy), while the first element has been explained as Welsh cyn, "chief" or "first," though that derivation is uncertain.
In Ireland, Conway can also be an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Conbhuidhe. That name comes from cú, "hound," and buidhe, "yellow," so its literal sense is "descendant of the yellow hound" or "descendant of Cú Buidhe." This Irish origin is independent of the Welsh place name, though the two became identical in English spelling.
Conway Name History & Origins
The River Conwy was known in medieval Wales before the town that shares its name. A Cistercian abbey stood at Aberconwy near the river's mouth. After Edward I's conquest of Wales in the late 13th century, the English crown built Conwy Castle and a walled town there, moving the abbey to Maenan. The English spelling Conway developed from the Welsh Conwy, and the surname was used for people who came from the town or the surrounding district. By the late Middle Ages and early modern period, Conway was established as a surname in Wales, the Welsh border counties, and England.
In Ireland, the surname also developed from the Gaelic Ó Conbhuidhe, a Munster family name found especially in Cork and Limerick. Because the Welsh and Irish names sounded alike, English records often wrote both as Conway. The given name Conway is a later use of the surname in the English-speaking world, rather than a name inherited directly from medieval Wales or Gaelic Ireland.
How Popular is the Name Conway?
Conway recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #895 in 1881.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #15,741 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #13,867 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,287 | 152 | 0.0089% |
| 2024 | #1,526 | 115 | 0.0067% |
| 2023 | #1,683 | 101 | 0.0059% |
| 2022 | #1,919 | 81 | 0.0046% |
| 2021 | #2,113 | 68 | 0.0039% |
| 2020 | #2,002 | 71 | 0.0041% |
| 2019 | #2,236 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 2018 | #2,084 | 68 | 0.0037% |
| 2017 | #2,458 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 2016 | #2,145 | 64 | 0.0034% |
| 2015 | #2,363 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2014 | #3,247 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2013 | #2,898 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2012 | #3,632 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2011 | #3,908 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2010 | #4,134 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2009 | #4,304 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2008 | #5,103 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #5,478 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #7,531 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #8,438 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #6,606 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2003 | #11,207 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #5,791 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #7,661 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #7,567 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #4,811 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #4,928 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #4,279 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #5,248 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #7,126 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #3,239 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1993 | #4,491 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #4,611 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #6,643 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #4,213 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #4,882 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #5,874 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #3,023 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #3,843 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #3,744 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #3,096 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #3,522 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #3,898 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #2,985 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #2,797 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #2,818 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #2,381 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #2,849 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #1,842 | 26 | 0.0017% |
| 1974 | #2,982 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1973 | #2,421 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #2,028 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #1,832 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1970 | #2,075 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #2,331 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #2,126 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #3,040 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #2,060 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #1,816 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #1,745 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1963 | #1,976 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #2,129 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #1,696 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1960 | #1,697 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #1,988 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #1,907 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #2,110 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #1,727 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,066 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1954 | #1,840 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #1,556 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1952 | #2,021 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1951 | #1,736 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1950 | #1,709 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #1,769 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1948 | #1,718 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1947 | #1,797 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #1,388 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1945 | #1,274 | 27 | 0.0020% |
| 1944 | #2,008 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #1,407 | 25 | 0.0018% |
| 1942 | #1,966 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1941 | #1,774 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1940 | #1,642 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1939 | #1,460 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1938 | #1,487 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1937 | #1,708 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1936 | #1,891 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1935 | #1,300 | 27 | 0.0026% |
| 1934 | #1,616 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1933 | #1,311 | 26 | 0.0026% |
| 1932 | #1,660 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1931 | #1,132 | 36 | 0.0035% |
| 1930 | #1,610 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1929 | #1,179 | 35 | 0.0033% |
| 1928 | #1,357 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1927 | #1,116 | 41 | 0.0036% |
| 1926 | #1,196 | 36 | 0.0032% |
| 1925 | #1,204 | 35 | 0.0031% |
| 1924 | #938 | 56 | 0.0049% |
| 1923 | #1,281 | 32 | 0.0029% |
| 1922 | #1,185 | 37 | 0.0034% |
| 1921 | #1,234 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1920 | #1,331 | 30 | 0.0028% |
| 1919 | #1,388 | 27 | 0.0028% |
| 1918 | #1,296 | 30 | 0.0030% |
| 1917 | #1,404 | 25 | 0.0027% |
| 1916 | #1,309 | 27 | 0.0030% |
| 1915 | #1,420 | 23 | 0.0027% |
| 1914 | #1,618 | 15 | 0.0023% |
| 1913 | #1,459 | 14 | 0.0027% |
| 1912 | #1,770 | 9 | 0.0021% |
| 1911 | #1,578 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1909 | #1,308 | 6 | 0.0037% |
| 1907 | #1,227 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1904 | #1,246 | 5 | 0.0039% |
| 1902 | #950 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1901 | #1,085 | 5 | 0.0047% |
| 1890 | #913 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1881 | #895 | 5 | 0.0050% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Conway Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Conway's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Conway's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.