Girl · #15,292 in 2026

Hecate

Hecate is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, or snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods depicted as three-formed or triple-bodied. She is variously associated with crossroads, night, light, magic, witchcraft, and the Moon.

Current Rank
#15,292
Peak Rank
#15,292 (2022)
Total Babies
5
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2022
First Year
2022
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#15292
Peak Rank
5
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Hecate

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Hecate is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, or snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods depicted as three-formed or triple-bodied. She is variously associated with crossroads, night, light, magic, witchcraft, and the Moon.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Potential Greek source words have been suggested for the goddess's name. The word ἑκών, meaning "willing" (thus, "she who works her will" or similar), may be related to the name Hecate. However, no sources suggested list will or willingness as a major attribute of Hecate, which calls this assertion into question. Another Greek word suggested as the origin of the name Hecate is Ἑκατός Hekatos , an obscure epithet of Apollo interpreted as "the far-reaching one" or "the far-darter". This has been suggested in comparison with the attributes of the goddess Artemis , strongly associated with Apollo
Origin & history
The earliest definitive record of Hecate's worship dates to the 6th century BCE, in the form of a small terracotta statue of a seated goddess, identified as Hecate in its inscription. This and other early depictions of Hecate lack distinctive attributes that would later be associated with her, such as a triple form or torches, and can only be identified as Hecate thanks to their inscriptions. Otherwise, they are typically generic, or Artemis -like. Hecate's cult became established in Athens about 430 BCE. At this time, the sculptor Alcamenes made the earliest known triple-formed Hecate statue

The Story of Hecate

Hecate first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2022, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 5 Hecates were born — ranking #15,292 that year. As of 2026, Hecate ranks #15,292 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Hecates have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2020s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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ID
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PA
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MD
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Hecate

Phonetically similar names — useful when Hecate is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Hekate
  • Hexed
  • Hackett
  • Hacket
  • Hecht
  • Hext
  • Hocket
  • Hect
  • Highgate
  • Hockett
  • Huggett
  • Haircut

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hecate

What does the name Hecate mean?
Hecate is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, or snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods depicted as three-formed or triple-bodied. She is variously associated with crossroads, night, light, magic, witchcraft, and the Moon.
How popular is Hecate in 2026?
In 2026, Hecate ranks #15,292 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Hecate most popular?
Hecate reached its peak popularity in 2022, ranking #15,292 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Hecate a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Hecate is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Hecate?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Hecate include Aadhvi, Aailani, Aarzu. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Aadhvi
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👧
Aailani
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👧
Aarzu
Peak #15292
👧
Aashvireddy
Peak #15292
👧
Abigailjoy
Peak #15292
👧
Achara
Peak #15292
👧
Ahmila
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👧
Aivi
Peak #15292

About the name Hecate

Hecate is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2022 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Hecate's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #15,292. Use the chart and map above to compare Hecate's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.