Help on this name please!

[Mez123]

Hello Everyone,
So me and my partner have finally agreed on the name Hector for our little boy and we love it! However it has just come to our attention that Hector is slang for bully? Is this something I should worry about? I'm so annoyed as we have finally agreed on a name to then find this out.☹️

I'd never heard that use of it.

I’ve never heard that either.

I’ve not heard it as slang but ‘hector’ is a verb which means to bully or boss about, eg: ‘She hectored me into giving her my lunch money’ or ‘The teacher would regularly hector the class
over homework.’ I wouldn’t say it’s a term in common usage, but equally it’s not completely obscure and it is a dictionary definition so less likely to fall completely out of usage than if it was just slang. If you use the name then the definition of bully/ boss about will always come up when you search for the meaning and is something your child could find in any dictionary.

It doesn't mean to bully someone exactly but it is a verb meaning to intimidate and speak to someone in a bullying manner.

However it's also a well established name so if you like it then don't let the definition put you off.

If you look hard enough, then all names can have a negative meaning.

George - Georgie , porgie.. , meaning fat
Nelly - Not on your Nelly
William - Willy
Richard - Dick
Nancy - Nancy boy

Not heard Hector means bully and it’s a fine name.

I don't know if Hector is slang but it's definitely a verb meaning to harangue someone. Lots of names have other meanings or connections and hectoring is not often used so I wouldn't worry.

I love it and never heard it used in that way

HECTOR | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
Hector - Wikipedia
Hector the Hound

What the heck!

Well yes that's kind of what the word means as a verb . But then to harry is to attack someone and I've never seen anyone worrying about calling their son Harry.

When did you see harry written as a verb? Hector is probably used far more often. Also, Harry has been extremely popular for decades.
Babies called Harry in England & Wales since 1996
Babies called Hector in England & Wales since 1996

It's quite an old fashioned saying. 'Stop hectoring me!' is something I haven't heard in years but my father might still use it in his vocabulary.

Nowadays people are much more inclined to say 'badgering' or 'bothering' rather than 'hectoring'.

'hectoring tones' isn't unusual.

I'd stick with Hector. 'To hector' is not slang, it's a verb meaning to lecture/harangue etc used in writing mostly. Lots of names have other meanings. Hector is a good solid name.

Never heard it used that way.

@Needanewname42 ,as pp, it's mainly used in writing. If you read a lot, you'll see it. I can't think of another way of writing exactly that meaning.
In speech, you might say something like nagging, badgering or something but it doesn't quite hit the right spot.

I get why you've heard that but would never associate it with a child's name. I love it

I'd say it was a bit like associating Dexter with Dextrous.

Dextrous is quite a nice meaning though.

I love Hector and it’s on our list, even though I know the other meaning of it. It’s just not a big deal to me.

It’s a well used name, I wouldn’t worry about it.

It wouldn't bother me. It's a good strong name.

I think it’s lovely! Unique in a good way.

I’ve only even met one Hector - he was in 20yo DD’s classes all through primary and secondary school. He is genuinely one of the most charming and polite young men I’ve ever come across, so by that account I think it’s a good name!

Er, whenever I have read stuff…
”he was harried from pillar to post”
“Russian drones harry Ukrainian forces day and night”
So you are saying because Harry is a popular name, that counteracts the verb, which is less popularly used. I would say the verb hector is even less used than the verb harry, so the fact the name is less popular than Harry (but not unheard of) is counteracted by that.

I meant that Harry as a name is so popular and has been for decades that it seems completely unremarkable, @ThatMauveRaven . I haven't studied the exact statistics for verbs used by journalists.
The verb to hector isn't a good association.

Victor is good.

As pp have explained, it's a standard English verb, not a slang term.

It wouldn't bother me. I think it's a great name and the Hector of the Iliad is a rare example of a mostly unproblematic classical hero!