where Conan got his name

I think I found out where Conan O'Brien got his name. And, no, I don't think it was from Conan the Barbarian. Did you know that Conan is actually a biblical name? But if you weren't reading carefully, you would miss it.

Hezekiah was one of the last faithful kings of Judah. His predecessor ruined the kingdom and worshiped other gods. But when Hezekiah came to power, he led the people in a massive reform. They smashed down the altars to the foreign gods and they cut down the Asherah poles.

Then Hezekiah went about re-establishing proper worship by the priests in the Temple. 2 Chronicles 31 tells us about the spiritual renewal led by the king. The people of Judah brought to the Temple all kinds of grain, wine, and oil as well as their flocks and herds for the sacrificial offerings.

Once all the people brought in all the materials needed for the offerings, they had so much left over that they had to put it in storehouses. Hezekiah put a Levite and his brother in charge of the storehouses. The name of the Levite in charge was "Conaniah". I am serious. I am not making this up. Check it out.

Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the LORD, and this was done. Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Conaniah, a Levite, was in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank. (2 Chronicles 31:11-12)

I am convinced that when Conan's Irish-Catholic mother looked down at her translucent-skinned, red-haired, string-bean of a son, she was reminded of the Levite who Hezekiah put in charge of the storehouses. And so she took his name and shortened it to Conan. That's my story and I am sticking to it.