You didn't say you disliked
Connor because it was recent, though, you said you disliked it because it was a last name.
Connor and
James and
Michael are all similar in that they are first names that have last names derived from them. That appeared to be your criticism.
If your view really was all along that any name that has not been common for millennia is unimaginative and pretentious - well, that's a really odd view.
http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/87410