Boy · #12,323 in 2026

Hektor

In Greek mythology, Hector was a Trojan prince, a hero, and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. He is a major character in Homer's Iliad, where he leads the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing countless Greek warriors.

  • Greek Mythology
Current Rank
#12,323
Peak Rank
#7,236 (2009)
Total Babies
101
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2005
First Year
2022
Last Year
2009
Peak Year
#7236
Peak Rank
101
Total Count
14
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Hektor

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

In Greek mythology, Hector was a Trojan prince, a hero, and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. He is a major character in Homer's Iliad, where he leads the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing countless Greek warriors.

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

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • Greek Mythology
Etymology
In Greek, Héktōr is a derivative agent noun of the verb ἔχειν ékhein , archaic form * ἕχειν , hékhein ('to have' or 'to hold'), from Proto-Indo-European seɡ́ʰ- ('to hold') ; Héktōr , therefore, would seem to mean "holder" or "possessor" (perhaps emphasizing his princely status), or could be taken to mean 'holding fast' (perhaps emphasizing his conduct during the siege of Ilium by the Argives ). Héktōr , or Éktōr as found in Aeolic poetry, is also an epithet of Zeus in his capacity as 'he who holds [everything together]'. The name was in use during Mycenaean times, as evidenced by a servant wit

The Story of Hektor

Hektor first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2005, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2009, when 11 Hektors were born — ranking #7,236 that year. As of 2026, Hektor ranks #12,323 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 101 Hektors have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Hektor

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Hektor. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Hektor

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

  • Hector
  • Hecter
  • Hoctor
  • Waechter
  • Heter
  • Hectare
  • Hecht
  • Hecker
  • Hect
  • Hecta
  • Hectors
  • Hectored

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hektor

What does the name Hektor mean?
In Greek mythology, Hector was a Trojan prince, a hero, and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. He is a major character in Homer's Iliad, where he leads the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing countless Greek warriors.
What is the origin of the name Hektor?
Hektor has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: Greek Mythology.
How popular is Hektor in 2026?
In 2026, Hektor ranks #12,323 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Hektor most popular?
Hektor reached its peak popularity in 2009, ranking #7,236 that year with 11 babies given the name.
Is Hektor a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Hektor is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Hektor?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Hektor include Benjimen, Santosh, Bishoy. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Hektor?
Common variants and related forms of Hektor include Hector. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

Similar Names

👦
Benjimen
Peak #7236
👦
Santosh
Peak #7236
👦
Bishoy
Peak #7236
👦
Jacody
Peak #7236
👦
Cardae
Peak #7236
👦
Talis
Peak #7236
👦
Hannan
Peak #7236
👦
Bralon
Peak #7236

About the name Hektor

Hektor is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2005 and has accumulated 101 births in the dataset. Hektor's peak popularity came in 2009 when it ranked #7,236. Use the chart and map above to compare Hektor'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.