Hector
Boy nameHector has been given to 109,209 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 2005 and currently ranks #409 for boys (2025).
Meaning & origin /ˈhɛktə/
From Latin Hectōr or Ancient Greek Ἕκτωρ (Héktōr), from ἕκτωρ (héktōr, “holding fast”), from ἔχω (ékhō, “to have, hold”), from Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- (“to hold; to overpower”). Sometimes used as an anglicization of various Scottish Gaelic names, including Eachann and Eochaid. The thundercloud cluster was named by pilots during the Second World War.
Origin: Ancient Greek
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
109,209
Peak year
2005 (2,458 babies)
Rank in 2025
#409 for boys
First recorded
1880
10-year trend
▼ -35%
Gender split
0% girls / 100% boys
Famous people named Hector
Hector Berlioz
French composer and conductor (1803–1869)
Saki
British writer
Hector Malot
French writer (1830–1907)
Héctor Elizondo
American actor
Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Hector.
Get new name insights first
Occasional updates when we add new data & tools. No spam, unsubscribe anytime by replying to any email or writing to hello@zalize.com.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy. We store only your email address and the date you signed up.