How popular is the baby name Hec in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Hec.

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Popularity of the baby name Hec


Posts that mention the name Hec

Interesting one-hit wonder names in the U.S. baby name data

single flower

They came, they went, and they never came back!

These baby names are one-hit wonders in the U.S. baby name data. That is, they’ve only popped up once, ever, in the entire dataset of U.S. baby names (which accounts for all names given to at least 5 U.S. babies per year since 1880).

There are thousands of one-hit wonders in the dataset, but the names below have interesting stories behind their single appearance, so these are the one-hits I’m writing specific posts about. Just click on a name to read more.

2020s

  • 2020: Jexi

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

1950s

1940s

1930s

1920s

1910s

1900s

  • (none yet)

1890s

As I discover (and write about) more one-hit wonders in the data, I’ll add the names/links to this page. In the meanwhile, do you have any favorite one-hit wonder baby names?

Image: Adapted from Solitary Poppy by Andy Beecroft under CC BY-SA 2.0.

[Latest update: Apr. 2024]

Where did the baby name Hec come from in 1973?

Title of the TV series "Hec Ramsey" (1972-1974).

The unusual baby name Hec was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. data during the 1970s:

  • 1975: unlisted
  • 1974: unlisted
  • 1973: 5 baby boys named Hec [debut]
  • 1972: unlisted
  • 1971: unlisted

What put it there?

The two-season western/detective series Hec Ramsey, which was broadcast on NBC from 1972 to 1974.

The show was set in the early 20th century and starred Richard Boone as Hector “Hec” Ramsey, a former gunfighter turned lawman who used then-modern forensic techniques (e.g., fingerprinting equipment) to catch criminals.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Hec?

Source: Hec Ramsey – Wikipedia

P.S. If you like Hec, you might also like Hud.