Connor vs Ryan
Connor and Ryancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2022, Connor was ranked #87 and Ryan #50 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Connor was ranked #829 and Ryan #57 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2022, Connor was ranked #92 and Ryan #69 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #88 and Ryan #104 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #164 and Ryan #104 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #264 and Ryan #132 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 1997, Connor was ranked #3174 and Ryan #2411 among girls in England and Wales.
Connor and Ryan over time
Connor and Ryan appear together in 5 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Ryan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Connor in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Connor reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ryan in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1983, Ryan moved ahead of Connor in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #150 and #161 the year before became #202 and #145.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Connor and Ryan changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1992 and 2022, ending at #92 and #69.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Connor and Ryan averaged 30.7 places apart, ending at #264 and #132.
- Longest-running competitions
Connor and Ryan were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 31 years, from 1992 to 2022, ending at #92 and #69.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Connor #11 in 1998, Ryan #7 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1971–2025
Connor held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ryan in 47.
Highest recorded here: Connor #71 in 1998, Ryan #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 1983: Ryan moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #150 and #161; by 1983 that had become #202 and #145.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Connor #829, Ryan #57.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1992–2022
Connor held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ryan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Connor #11 in 1999, Ryan #10 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Connor #92, Ryan #69.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Connor held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Ryan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Connor #11 in 1998, Ryan #7 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Connor #264, Ryan #132.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1994–2022
Connor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ryan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Connor #23 in 2003, Ryan #8 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Connor #87, Ryan #50.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Connor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ryan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Connor #35 in 1998, Ryan #2 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Connor #164, Ryan #104.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Connor | Ryan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riain, a patronymic from the given name Rian. The exact meaning of Rian itself remains uncertain, despite a popular but unconfirmed 'little king' gloss. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹaɪ.ən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #57 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ryan has a recorded origin (Irish (surname origin)); Connor does not have one recorded yet.
- Connor has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ryan.
- A meaning is recorded for Ryan; Connor doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Connor
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Ryan
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #280 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #81 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys