Conway as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Conway

What is the meaning of the name Conway ?

The baby name Conway is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkɒn.weɪ/ (UK),/ˈkɑːn.weɪ/ (US),KON-way.

Conway is English, Irish, Welsh in Origin.

Conway is an English surname and given name with two main roots. In Wales, it denotes someone from Conwy - the medieval walled town and river - often analyzed as “chief water,” hence “from the holy river.” In Ireland and Scotland, Conway anglicizes several Gaelic surnames: Ó Conbhuidhe/Ó Conbhuide (con “hound” + buí “yellow, fair” → “yellow/fair hound”) and Ó/ Mac Connmhaigh (con “hound” + magh “plain”), yielding “hound of the plain.”

Used as a given name since the 19th century in the British Isles and North America, Conway functions as a transferred surname with sturdy, heritage appeal. It enjoyed modest mid‑20th‑century recognition, aided by country singer Conway Twitty (stage name) and statesman Henry Seymour Conway. Variants and related forms include Conwy (Welsh), Conaway, Conwey, and O’Conway; Irish cognates such as Conboy reflect the same Gaelic roots. Short form: Con. Predominantly masculine, but occasionally unisex.