Hector is a male given name of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek word 'Ἕκτωρ', which means "holder" or "possessor". The name Hector has a long and rich history, most notably associated with the Trojan prince Hector in Homer's epic poem, the Iliad.
In ancient Greek mythology, Hector was the son of King Priam of Troy and his wife Hecuba. He was a brave and skilled warrior who fought against the Greeks during the Trojan War. Despite his heroic efforts to defend his city, Troy ultimately fell due to the cunning of Odysseus and the other Greek heroes.
The name Hector has been popular throughout history and has been used by several notable figures in different cultures. For instance, Saint Hector was a French bishop who lived in the 5th century AD, and there were also several medieval kings named Hector in various European countries.
Today, Hector remains a strong and distinctive male given name that continues to be chosen by parents around the world. It is often associated with strength, bravery, and nobility due to its historical roots in Greek mythology. Despite its long history, however, the meaning of Hector has not changed: it still signifies a holder or possessor, perhaps indicating that those named Hector are destined to hold onto their values and possess important qualities throughout their lives.
Based on the statistics provided, we can see that the name Hector has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States. The data covers a span of nearly eight decades, from 1935 to 2008.
In the early years, the number of births with the name Hector was quite low, fluctuating between 5 and 7 per year between 1935 and 1964. However, there seems to have been a significant increase in popularity from the late 1960s onwards, with the highest peak occurring in 1980, when 21 babies were named Hector.
The following decade maintained this heightened interest, with annual births ranging between 13 and 19. The name's popularity began to wane again in the mid-1990s, with fewer than 16 births each year from 1995 to 2004. However, there was another small spike in 2008 when 7 babies were named Hector.
Overall, throughout these years, a total of 481 children were named Hector in the United States. This data provides valuable insights into the trends and fluctuations in popularity for this particular name over time.