Hector

Greek

"holding fast"

Updated Thu Mar 13 2025

Hector Origin and Meaning

The name Hector is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "holding fast".

Previously used primarily by Latino families, this name of the great hero of the Trojan War as related in Homer's Iliad is beginning to be considered more seriously by others seeking noble ancient hero names as well--it was also the name of the knight who raised King Arthur as his own son.

In addition to being used for many contemporary Hispanic movie and TV characters, other Hectors appeared in such films as Mystic Pizza and Lars and the Real Girl. In literature, you can find Hectors in Thackeray's Vanity Fair and Balzac's Cousin Bette.

Some notable real-life Hectors: composer Berlioz and actor Elizando.

# 384 in the US

Hector Rank in US Top 1000

# 508 on Nameberry

Hector Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Popularity of the name Hector

384US2023
508Nameberry2025
421Future2028
295England2023
391Germany2016
51Spain2023
107Mexico2021

20 Names Similar to Hector

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Hector.

Famous People Named Hector

Hector Berlioz
French composer
Hector Lavoe
Puerto Rican salsa singer
Hector Hugh Munro aka Saki
British short,story writer
Héctor Elizondo
American actor
Héctor Barberá
Spanish motorcycle racer
Héctor Garza
Mexican pro wrestler
Héctor Faubel
Spanish motorcycle racer
Héctor Delgado Román
Puerto Rican reggaeton singer
Hector Boece
Scottish philosopher
Héctor Camacho
Puerto Rican boxer
Héctor Bellerin
Spanish Football Player for Arsenal

The name Hector in Pop Culture

Hector Barbossa
"Pirates of the Caribbean" series
Hector
son of Priam in Greek mythology
Hector of the Mist
outlaw in The Legend of Montrose (1819) by Sir Walter Scott
Hector
slave to Gabriel Harrison in William Gilmore Simms's novel The Yemassee (1835)
Hector Madden
character in television series "The Hour"
"Hector was the First of the Gang to Die
" song by Morrissey
Hector "Tio" Salamanca
character on TV's "Breaking Bad"
Hector Rex Vonner
character in book/movie "A Time to Kill"
Hector Cruz
character in movie "Entrapment"
Hector Campbell
main character in G. A. Henty's, Won by the Sword
Hector Bittermouse
character in Jenny Nimmo's "The Children of the Red King" series
Hector Zeroni
character in the book/movie "Holes"
Hector James
character in the 'Switchpaw Saga' book series
Hector "Hec" Faulkner
character in "Hunt for the Wilderpeople"
Hector Hammond
character in DC Universe
Hector
nicknamed "Heck," a character from the film "Imagine Me and You"
Hector Romero
character in the TV series "extr@"
Hector
character in Pixar's "Coco"
Hector
character in video game Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade