Meaning & History
Conrí is an Old Irish male given name, composed of the elements cú (genitive con) meaning “hound, wolf, dog” and rí meaning “king”, thus literally “king of hounds” or “king of dogs”. The name appears in early medieval Irish sources, reflecting the importance of hounds in Celtic warrior culture — both as hunting companions and symbols of nobility. While the name is rare in modern times, it belongs to a class of Old Irish names that compound animal terms with titles of authority.
The element cú is also found in famous mythological and legendary names such as Cú Chulainn (“hound of Culann”), the hero of the Ulster Cycle, where it signified ferocity and loyalty. The root rí is common in Gaelic names, e.g., Flaithrí (“king of princes”), and is cognate with Gaulish rix and Latin rex.