The first name Hector
A boy’s name from Greek meaning “holding fast”, “to have”, “hold”.
Pronounced /ˈhɛktɚ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Hector means “holding fast”, “to have”, “hold” in Greek.
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.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 162 boys were named Hector, making it the 278th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 206 births (#255).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Hector with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Hector at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 779 boys born in the United States were named Hector, the 409th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2005, when 2,458 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Hector in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Hector in French too.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Hectour
Famous people named Hector
106 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Hector BerliozFrench composer and conductor (1803–1869)
- Hector MalotFrench writer (1830–1907)
- Héctor CúperArgentine footballer, born 1955
- Hector GuimardFrench architect (1867–1942)
- Héctor ElizondoAmerican actor, born 1936
- Héctor BabencoBrazilian-Argentine film director (1946-2016)
- Héctor YazaldeArgentine footballer (1946-1997)
- Héctor RialArgentine footballer (1928–1991)
- Héctor EnriqueArgentine footballer (born 1962)
- Héctor BaleyArgentinian footballer, born 1950
- Héctor BaldassiArgentine football referee and politician, born 1966
- Héctor AlterioArgentine actor (1929–2025)
More Greek boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Hector mean?
- Hector means “holding fast”, “to have”, “hold” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Hector?
- 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…
- How popular is the name Hector?
- In 2025, 162 boys born in England and Wales were named Hector, ranking 278th. Its peak was 2016, with 206 births.
- Is Hector a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 109,209 US babies named Hector since 1880 were boys.
- When was Hector most popular?
- 2005 in the United States, when 2,458 babies were named Hector, its highest rank at 167th.
- How do you pronounce Hector?
- Hector is /ˈhɛktɚ/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Hector?
- Hectour.
- Is Hector also a surname?
- Yes. Hector is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.