What does the name Hugh mean?

Hugh is a boy name of Germanic origin: from Germanic 'hug' meaning heart, mind, spirit.

When was the name Hugh most popular?

In US Social Security records since 1890, Hugh peaked in the 1890s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.

What are names similar to Hugh?

Names similar to Hugh in origin and style include Henry, Frank, Charles, William, James.

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Hugh

boy name

Origin

Germanic

Syllables

Peak era

1890s/2020s

Today

▬ Steady

Meaning

from Germanic 'hug' meaning heart, mind, spirit

Popularity, 1890–2024

peak 1890s2020s

Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Hugh peaked in the 1890s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.

See popularity in Brazil

Popularity in Brazil

20 people · the #124,180 first name in Brazil · median age 34

Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022

Names that fit alongside Hugh

Henry Frank Charles William James Ralph

The Hugh deep dive

Written for you · $1.99 →

Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Hugh truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Hugh fits with your family’s names and surname.

Both reports, explained →

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