Hector

Meaning: Holding fast
Origin: Greek — From Hector, the Trojan hero of the Iliad

Boy's name · #409 in the US (2025) · 2000s wave

Popularity over time

Hector reached its best rank, #156, in 1990 and ranked #409 in 2025. Roughly 109,000 boys have been named Hector since 1880.

Across the states

See where Hector is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 36 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Hector ranks in other countries and regions.

#49 in Spain (2024) · #118 in Mexico (2024) · #129 in Ecuador (2025) · #138 in Puerto Rico (2025) · #141 in France (2025) · #158 in Belgium (2025) · #261 in Sweden (2025) · #278 in England & Wales (2025) · #333 in Scotland (2025) · #409 in Switzerland (2025) · #591 in Canada (2025) · #1,084 in Austria (2025) and 4 more.

Famous Hectors

Hector Berlioz — French Romantic composer and conductor (1803–1869)
Héctor Bellerín — Spanish footballer (born 1995)
Héctor Moreno — Mexican footballer (born 1988)
Hector Malot — French writer (1830–1907)
Héctor Castro — Uruguayan footballer (1904–1960)
Héctor Elizondo — American actor (born 1936)
Héctor Herrera — Mexican footballer (born 1990)
Héctor Cúper — Argentine footballer (born 1955)
Héctor Babenco — Argentine-Brazilian film director (1946–2016)
Héctor Scarone — Uruguayan footballer (1898–1967)

In stories & tradition

Hector — Iliad (book)
Hector Barbossa — Fictional character in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series
Hector de Maris — Half brother of Lancelot

What Hectors become

Among 2,170 notable people named Hector:

Sports figures appear 1.45× more often than among typical names — e.g. Héctor Bellerín, Spanish footballer (born 1995).

Similar names: Andres · Pedro · Esteban · Jorge · Jaime · Nestor

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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