NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ector

Masculine name of Latin origin meaning "leader" or "guide".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Ector is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ector popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4647, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2011 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Ector is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Ector. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2012 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Ector ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 3 boys were registered as Ector.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ector as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4647

2011

Births in 2011

3

Latest year

Peak year

2011

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Ector mean?

The name Ector has its origins in the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "hektōr," which means "holding fast" or "steadfast." The name can be traced back to the 8th century BC and the legendary figure of Hector, a Trojan prince who fought valiantly in the Trojan War, as depicted in Homer's epic poem, the Iliad.

Hector was the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. He was regarded as the greatest fighter for Troy during the Trojan War and was known for his bravery, skill, and unwavering devotion to his family and city. Hector's name became synonymous with courage, strength, and loyalty, qualities that were highly valued in ancient Greek society.

The name Ector, with its variant spellings such as Hector and Hectour, gained popularity throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. It was commonly used among the nobility and military classes, reflecting the name's association with heroism and martial prowess.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ector can be found in the 12th-century French epic poem, "The Song of Roland." In this work, Ector is the name of a Frankish knight who fights alongside the legendary Roland at the Battle of Roncesvalles.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ector. One of the most famous was Ector de Maris (c. 1170-1262), a French knight who served as the tutor and mentor of King Arthur in Arthurian legend. Another was Ector Berlioz (1803-1869), a renowned French Romantic composer known for works such as the Symphonie Fantastique.

Other notable figures with the name Ector include Ector Cafferata (1908-1972), an Argentine actor and film director, and Ector County, Texas, which was named after Mathew Ector (1784-1841), an early settler and soldier in the Texas Revolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Ector by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ector was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #4647 3 1

Related

Names similar to Ector

FAQ

Ector: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ector in the UK right now?

In 2011, Ector was ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ector most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 3 babies registered as Ector in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ector?

Masculine name of Latin origin meaning "leader" or "guide".

How many people are called Ector in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Ector across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.