Hector
Hector is a boys' name of Greek origin meaning “holding fast, steadfast defender.” It ranked #409 in the United States in 2025. Hector was Troy's greatest warrior and its most noble hero in Homer's Iliad.
how do you pronounce Hector?
HEK-tor
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Hector mean?
The name Hector means “holding fast, steadfast defender.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
Hector was Troy's greatest warrior and its most noble hero in Homer's Iliad. Unlike the wrathful Achilles, Hector fought not for glory but to protect his family and city, making him the archetype of the devoted father, husband, and defender in Western literature.
where does the name Hector come from?
Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree Hector derives from Hektōr, the Trojan champion killed by Achilles, from a Greek root meaning "to have, hold, check, restrain" — matching the existing "holding fast" gloss. In Scotland it is sometimes an anglicization of the Gaelic Eachann, with the pet form Heckie.
the history of Hector
Wikipedia notes Sir Ector, foster father of King Arthur, as a variant of the same name; Wiktionary adds that Allied pilots named a thundercloud cluster "Hector" during the Second World War.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #409 |
| 2024 | #379 |
| 2023 | #385 |
| 2022 | #355 |
| 2021 | #361 |
| 2020 | #365 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Hector?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Hector?
- Hector Berlioz (French Romantic composer)
- Hector Elizondo (acclaimed American actor)
what names are similar to Hector?
what names go well with Hector?
Sibling names that share Hector's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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