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The short answer
Hector is a masculine name used in English and French. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Latinized form of Greek Ἕκτωρ (Hektor), which was derived from ἕκτωρ (hektor) meaning ‘holding fast’, ultimately from ἔχω (echo) meaning ‘to hold, to possess’. In Greek legend Hector was one of the Trojan champions who fought against the Greeks." It ranked #409 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, latinized form of Greek Ἕκτωρ (Hektor), which was derived from ἕκτωρ (hektor) meaning ‘holding fast’, ultimately from ἔχω (echo) meaning ‘to hold, to possess’. In Greek legend Hector was one of the Trojan champions who fought against the Greeks. The entry lists its usage as English, French, Greek Mythology (Latinized), Arthurian Cycle.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Hector ranked #409 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #409 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Hector in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hector mean?
Hector means "holding fast", according to Behind the Name.
Is Hector a popular name?
Hector ranked #409 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Hector a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Hector appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Hector — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
