Hector is a masculine name originally spelled as Hektor, which derives from the Greek word ékhein, which means ‘to have,’ ‘to hold,’ ‘to check,’ and ‘to restrain.’ The name also has English, French, Scottish, and Spanish origins.
In Greek mythology, Hector was a legendary hero of the Trojan War who was killed by the Greek warrior Achilles. On the other hand, in Scotland, Hector is the anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name, Eachann, composed of the words ‘each,’ meaning ‘horse,’ and ‘donn,’ signifying “brown.’
In Arthurian legend, Hector was the foster father of King Arthur. He raised Arthur in obscurity and trained him in the ways of knighthood, not knowing his true identity as the rightful king of Britain.
During medieval times, Hector was a popular name among the nobility in Germany. With its noble origins and strong meaning, anyone named Hector is sure to face life’s challenges with grace and composure.
Hector is one of the most popular names for boys in Spanish-speaking countries. The name has several variants, such as Hèctor (Catalan), Heck and Heckie (Scottish), Héctor (Spanish), Ettore (Italian), and Heitor (Portuguese). ‘Héctor’ and ‘Hèctor’ are spelling variants of ‘Hector.’ The name’s pronunciation is ‘he(c)-tor,’ with the stress on the first syllable.
The masculine name Hector has several namesakes in popular culture. For instance, the deuteragonist of the Disney/Pixar filmCocowas named Héctor.Captain Hector Barbossais a fictional character that appears in all five films of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Hector “Tio” Salamanca, played by Mark Margolis, is the elderly don of the Salamanca drug organization in the hit crime and legal television series Better Call Saul. In addition, the name is prominent in various works of literature.
Hector Bowen, also known as Prospero the Enchanter, is a popular character in the 2011 fantasy novel The Night Circus. In addition,Hectoris famous in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair and Balzac’s Cousin Bette.
How To Pronounce Hector?
Famous People With The Name Hector
- Héctor ÁvilaRetired boxer from the Dominican Republic, won a bronze medal at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico
- Héctor ElizondoAmerican character actor, earned two ALMA Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award for his works
- Hector Hugh MunroBritish writer, considered a master of the short story
- Héctor Luis Delgado RománPuerto Rican rapper, singer, and record producer, garnered fame as a member of the duo Héctor & Tito
- Hector GuimardFrench architect and designer, widely known for his Art Nouveau style for the Paris Metro station
Hector On The Popularity Chart
Hector enjoyed significant popularity in the 1980s and early 2000s, with occasional modest declines. Refer to the graph for detailed insights.
Popularity Over Time
Hector reached its peak popularity in 2005 when 2,458 babies per million were given the name.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Hector reached its lowest ranking in 2007 but showed some improvement after that. Check out the graph below for more information.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Hector
If the name Hector appeals to you, but you want to explore alternative names with distinct meanings, go through the following options.
Popular Sibling Names For Hector
Other Popular Names Beginning With H
Names With Similar Meaning As Hector
Explore these names that are similar in meaning to Hector.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
hector
In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Hector
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Hector?
The name Hector means to check, to have, to hold, and to restrain.
2. What is the origin of the name Hector?
Hector has a Greek and Spanish origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Hector?
Hector is pronounced as hec-tor.