Hector
Boy name · #409 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Hector? In official American birth records, Hector has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 779 baby boys were named Hector, placing it at #409 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #303, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,311 boys born in 2025 was named Hector.
The 145-year story
Hector first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 15 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2005, when 2,458 boys were named Hector — good for #167 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Hector per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Hector against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Hector in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Hector is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Hector is most common
Geography matters for names, and Hector is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Hector is most common in AZ (1.2 per 1,000), TX (1.1 per 1,000), CA (0.9 per 1,000), KS (0.9 per 1,000), CO (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Hector is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Hector
Statistically, parents drawn to Hector tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Victor, Edgar, Cesar, Nestor, and Javier.
VictorEdgarCesarNestorJavierManuelTrevorMarco
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Hector | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 779 | #409 |
| 2024 | 864 | #379 |
| 2023 | 831 | #384 |
| 2022 | 927 | #355 |
| 2021 | 901 | #361 |
| 2020 | 856 | #365 |
| 2019 | 985 | #341 |
| 2018 | 1,012 | #331 |
| 2017 | 1,074 | #318 |
| 2016 | 1,100 | #319 |
| 2015 | 1,194 | #303 |
| 2014 | 1,214 | #292 |
| 2013 | 1,257 | #277 |
| 2012 | 1,325 | #267 |
| 2011 | 1,414 | #248 |
| 2010 | 1,562 | #226 |
| 2009 | 1,845 | #204 |
| 2008 | 2,179 | #182 |
| 2007 | 2,243 | #183 |
| 2006 | 2,327 | #175 |
| 2005 | 2,458 | #167 |
| 2004 | 2,004 | #192 |
| 2003 | 1,998 | #189 |
| 2002 | 1,942 | #195 |
| 2001 | 1,905 | #193 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Hector?
In official American birth records, the name Hector first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 15 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Hector a popular boy name?
Hector ranked #409 among boys in 2025 with 779 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #303.
When was the name Hector most popular?
Hector peaked in 2005, when 2,458 American boys received the name (ranked #167 that year). Since 2005 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Hector?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,311 newborn American boys was named Hector. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.