Hector

Hector: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “holding fast”
Origin: Greek
Say it: HEK-ter · 2 syllables
Used for: Boys

From Greek Hektor, probably derived from a verb meaning 'to hold fast.' In Greek myth, Hector was the Trojan prince and hero of the Iliad.

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How popular is Hector?

2024258 per million US babies

Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Compare with another name

Babies named Hector in 2024858

2024 rank#380 boys

Peak year2005

Total US babies since 1880108,418

Hector has been fairly stable over the last fifteen years.

Names like Hector

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Theodoregift of God · Greek
Sebastianfrom Sebaste · Greek
Alexanderdefender of men · Greek
Lukefrom Lucania · Greek
Christopherbearer of Christ · Greek
Andrewmanly, brave · Greek
Theogod · Greek
Georgefarmer, earth-worker · Greek

Hector questions

What does the name Hector mean?

Hector means "holding fast". It comes from Greek. From Greek Hektor, probably derived from a verb meaning 'to hold fast.' In Greek myth, Hector was the Trojan prince and hero of the Iliad.

Is Hector a boy or girl name?

Hector is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Hector?

858 US babies were named Hector in 2024. Its peak year was 2005.

How do you pronounce Hector?

Hector is usually pronounced HEK-ter.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.