Conway: Baby Name of the DayIt’s an Irish surname name with a healthy dose of Americana.

Thanks to Emilee for suggesting Conway as our Baby Name of the Day.

Conway: Surname Name

Conway comes to us from Ireland and Wales, where it’s the Anglicized form of more than one name, including:

  • It’s cousin to McNamee, which is originally Mac Conmidhe
  • It could come from a personal name derived from conmach – head-smashing
  • It could also come from a personal name meaning yellow hound

It’s a curious bunch of origin stories, and there are also possible Welsh and Scottish place names associated with Conway.

Let’s say that the meaning is unclear, but the sound is unmistakable.

Conway: Twitty

Poster for 1922 Harold Lloyd film "Grandm...

Harold Lloyd Jenkins was born in Mississippi in 1933, and would go on to score a record-setting forty – yup, forty! – number one hits on the Billboard country charts.

Harold Lloyd was inspired by a silent movie actor’s name, but the future Country Music Hall of Famer felt it wasn’t quite right for a star.

There’s more than one story about how Harold became Conway.

Some say the singer saw a road sign for two places, one called Conway and one called Twitty. It stuck.

Others say that he met a man named Conway Twitty, and he decided to steal the name. There was another Twitty, and in the 1960s, he recorded “What’s in a Name but Trouble,” lamenting the loss of his name to Harold Jenkins. Or so they say – I can’t find a recording of the tune.

By 1958, Twitty was starting to enjoy some professional success as a rock ‘n’ roll singer, but a decade later, he’d firmly gone Nashville. His biggest hit was 1970’s “Hello Darlin’,” followed by a string of successful duets with Loretta Lynn.

The hits kept on coming, and by 1990, he’d had 55 number one hits on the country charts.

Conway: Baby Name

Conway: Baby Name of the DayWhile Mr. Twitty’s musical legacy isn’t in doubt, were any parents inspired to name their baby after him?

Actually, it turns out that there were a handful of Conways prior to the late 1950s, when someone might have been inspired by the musician. (And lending credence to the possibility that Mr. Twitty borrowed his name.)

Doubtless some of that is because it’s a familiar surname, and family surnames have long been handed down as first names. It’s a popular place name, too.

There was an increase in the name’s use in the 1910s. Could credit go to band leader Patrick Conway? Conway’s Band had some success in the decade.

In the 1930s and 40s, actor Jack Conway became better known as a director – but that seems like a poor explanation for the name’s peak in 1924, when 56 boys were given the name.

What we can conclude is that Mr. Twitty wasn’t a big influence on the name’s use. During the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, it was rare. Only in recent decades has Conway seen an uptick. That’s probably due to our affection for surname names, and perhaps some crossover from other country-inspired appellations like Cash.

In 2014, there were 34 newborn boys given the name – a respectable number.

If you’re lucky enough to find this one on your family tree, it might make for a distinctive first name choice. Or if you’re simply after a distinctive name that will be instantly recognized but rarely shared, Conway is one to consider.

What do you think of Conway? Does it work as a given name?

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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1 Comment

  1. I knew a Black guy named Conway. It kind of fits in with popular African-American names like Kwame, Dante, and Andre (yes, I know those names come from African and European languages, but they have had a high rate of use amongst Black people in the United States). All four names have the powerful “ah” sound in the first syllable and the romantic “ay” one in the second. I think it’s an appealing sound combination, though Conway kind of makes me think of a con man (I have the same problem with Conrad).