Hector

Hector - A very unique male name

Hector appeared on the charts for the first time in 1911 on position #516. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Hector and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Hector? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Hector. The baby boy name Hector was given to 758 baby boys in 2025, ranking #406 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,934 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Hector peaked in popularity 36 years ago in 1990 on position 157.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Hector, 1-5?

Hector is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Hector is currently topping the baby name charts in Texas at position #191 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,056.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Hector is where you live.

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Hector origin and meaning

Greek

From Greek Hektor, traditionally derived from ekhein, 'to hold, to hold fast' — 'holding fast'

In the Iliad, Hector is Troy's noblest prince and defender, which fixed the name in Western culture. Long used across Europe, it peaked in the U.S. in 2005 and has eased since, remaining especially familiar in Spanish-speaking families.

Attested etymology

Hector is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Hector, pop culture references for the name Hector and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Hector

We've found the following names that sound similar to Hector, sorted by popularity.

Hester /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Hector

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Hector a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Hector?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

HEK-ter · /ˈhÉ›ktÉš/

Around the world

• Héctor (Spanish) — Standard Spanish form, with stress on the first syllable
• Ettore (Italian) — Italian form of the same Greek name
• Hector (French) — French form, pronounced with a silent h

Spellings and nicknames

• Hektor — Greek transliteration spelling

Famous bearers

• Hector — Trojan prince and hero of Homer's Iliad (Fictional, Iliad) Fictional
• Hector Berlioz — French Romantic composer (1803–1869) Historical
• Héctor Elizondo — American actor known for Pretty Woman and Chicago Hope (b. 1936) Contemporary

Style

MythologicalClassicInternational

Why parents choose it

Chosen for its heroic, literary weight and strong, compact sound.

Worth knowing

• The verb 'to hector' means to bully or badger — an unrelated, unfortunate dictionary association some people know.