Heitor is the Portuguese form of Hector, the Trojan hero of the Iliad, whose Greek name is usually explained as "holding fast" or "steadfast", from the verb echein. The composer Heitor Villa-Lobos is Brazil's most famous bearer, and the name is a top choice in Brazil today. In the United States Heitor is chosen almost entirely by Brazilian families: it ranked number 9939 in 2015, climbed to number 2491 in 2023 and stood at number 2618 in 2025 with 50 boys.