O'Connor is an Irish surname and given name, derived from the Gaelic Ó Conghorda, meaning "descendant of Conghur". The name Conghur itself means "wolf-dog", a reference to strength and courage. Historically, O'Connor has been associated with the ancient kingdom of Connacht, where it was held by powerful chieftains and kings. Today, O'Connor is recognized worldwide as an Irish heritage name, with notable bearers including Irish playwrights Edward Martin O'Connor and Sean O'Connor, as well as American actors Chris O'Donnell and Catherine O'Hara.
The name O'Connor saw a resurgence in popularity from 2015 onwards with eight births each in those years and in 2018, while the numbers were lower in 2006 and 2020 with six births each. Overall, there have been 28 babies named O'Connor born since 2006.