Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!

Héctor as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Héctor

Add to my Name List

The baby name Héctor is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced {'Spanish': '/ˈek.toɾ/ (EHK-tor)', 'English': '/ˈhɛk.tər/ (HEK-ter)'}.

Héctor is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: {'Spanish': '/ˈek.toɾ/ (EHK-tor)', 'English': '/ˈhɛk.tər/ (HEK-ter)'}

What is the meaning of the name Héctor ?

The baby name Héctor is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced {'Spanish': '/ˈek.toɾ/ (EHK-tor)', 'English': '/ˈhɛk.tər/ (HEK-ter)'}.

Héctor is Greek in Origin.

Héctor is the Spanish form of the ancient Greek name Hektor (Ἕκτωρ), derived from the verb ekhein "to hold, to possess, to restrain," yielding senses such as "steadfast one," "holder," or "defender." Its heroic resonance comes from the Trojan prince Hector in Homer's Iliad, celebrated for courage, loyalty, and protective duty, qualities that the name has culturally signified for millennia.

The name passed into Latin as Hector and spread across Europe through classical education and Renaissance humanism, seeing sustained use in the Romance world and periodic revivals in English-speaking countries from the 18th-19th centuries onward. Variants include Hektor (Greek/Slavic), Hector (English/French), Héctor (Spanish), Hèctor (Catalan), Ettore (Italian), and Heitor (Portuguese). Usage is strong across Latin America and Spain, with steady recognition worldwide thanks to literature, opera, and modern media.

Héctor has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Héctor

Héctor Elizondo Actor · Born 1936 · United States Héctor Elizondo is an actor from the United States, best known for his role as Dr. Phillip Watters on the television series 'Chicago Hope'. He also appeared in films like 'Pretty Woman' and 'The Princess Diaries'. Born in 1936, his career spans several decades with numerous memorable performances. Héctor Alterio Actor · Born 1929 · Spain Héctor Alterio is a Spanish actor best known for his roles in films like 'The Official Story' and 'The Nest'. Born in 1929, he has had a long and successful career in both Spanish and Argentine cinema, captivating audiences with his powerful performances. Héctor Bonilla Actor · Born 1939 · Mexico Héctor Bonilla was a Mexican actor best known for his role in the film 'Rojo Amanecer', which depicted the events of the Tlatelolco massacre. He also starred in 'El Bulto' and 'Mujeres Insumisas', showcasing his versatility and depth as an actor. Born in 1939, his contributions to Mexican cinema left a lasting impact.

Héctor – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
HN 0 #20 3 704
SV Boys 0 #25 4 352
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
HN Boys 0 #48 5 749
PR 0 #49 7 1,497
PR Boys 0 #99 90 2,508
EC 0 #106 10 2,502
PA 0 #116 15 3,797
CL Boys 0 #127 3,405 13,390
CR 0 #149 10 5,526
MX Boys 0 #154 5,313 16,355
EC Boys 0 #162 80 3,322
UY 0 #163 15 2,477
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
AR 0 #173 14 2,915
Spain Boys 0 #173 2,878 5,610
UY Boys 0 #175 434 5,922
AR Boys 0 #176 723 7,628
GT Boys 0 #179 574 7,625
Sweden Boys 2021 #182 2 1,578
MX 0 #185 267 8,339
GT 0 #188 129 5,948
CO Boys 0 #192 3,375 15,656
CL 0 #197 277 6,867
PA Boys 0 #197 436 9,305
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
PT 0 #249 2 4,161
EC Girls 0 #257 2 3,650
CR Boys 0 #265 286 10,188
Spain 0 #269 199 2,326
PE 0 #278 33 6,350
PE Boys 0 #296 1,443 14,506
JP Boys 0 #302 2 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
CO 0 #314 183 7,768
CN Boys 0 #330 2 9,639
BO 0 #352 30 6,868
BR 0 #360 1 5,969
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
PT Boys 0 #377 5 7,951
BO Boys 0 #391 227 9,244
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
UY Girls 0 #536 1 6,731
GT Girls 0 #539 3 7,500
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
PS Boys 0 #557 5 10,655
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
IR Boys 0 #565 1 10,162
CR Girls 0 #573 1 11,342
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
IL Boys 0 #622 4 10,983
AR Girls 0 #627 4 8,289
BO Girls 0 #650 2 9,488
BR Boys 0 #734 18 12,213
SG Boys 0 #739 1 17,960
CL Girls 0 #842 10 14,098
TN 0 #865 1 13,765
OM Boys 0 #915 4 17,948
PE Girls 0 #934 10 14,861
Germany Boys 0 #943 10 5,697
Spain Girls 0 #971 13 5,561
CO Girls 0 #1,055 24 16,140
AE Boys 0 #1,143 1 22,615
MX Girls 0 #1,146 38 17,781
DZ 0 #1,229 6 20,130
TR 0 #1,254 1 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,438 34 10,046

Héctor is popular in 42 countries — most recent births per country:

AE
AO
AR
BD
BO

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Héctor

Héctor is predominantly a boy's name.
Héctor is a 2 syllable name, pronounced {'Spanish': '/ˈek.toɾ/ (EHK-tor)', 'English': '/ˈhɛk.tər/ (HEK-ter)'}.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Héctor, Hector, Hektor and Ektor.
Across languages, Héctor has these equivalents: Greek: Hektor (Ἕκτωρ), Russian: Гектор (Gektor).
Yes — Héctor ranked #182 in Sweden in 2021.
Yes — 3 notable people named Héctor are in our database, including Héctor Elizondo (Actor), Héctor Alterio (Actor), Héctor Bonilla (Actor).