The first name Hugh

In 2025, 73 boys were named Hugh, making it the 529th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 165 births (#198).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Hugh with other names.

In 2025, 360 boys born in the United States were named Hugh, the 732nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1916, when 1,619 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Nicknames for Hugh

• Huey
• Hughie

• Hugh Grant
  British actor, born 1960
• Hugh Laurie
  English actor, comedian, director, musician and writer (born 1959)
• Hugh Hefner
  American businessman and magazine publisher (1926–2017)
• Hugh David Politzer
  American physicist, born 1949
• Hugh Bonneville
  British actor (born 1963)
• Hugh the Great
  Duke of the Franks and Count of Paris (c. 898–956)
• Hugh Lofting
  British author (1886–1947)
• Hugh Walpole
  British writer (1884-1941)
• Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding
  British officer in the Royal Air Force (1882-1970)
• Hugh O'Brian
  American actor and United States Marine (1925–2016)
• Hugh Hudson
  British director (1936–2023)
• Hugh Trevor-Roper
  British historian (1914-2003)

• Tyler
• Alfred
• Blake
• Grayson
• Stanley
• Tom
• Wyatt
• Miles
• Brandon
• Maxwell
• Landon
• Bradley
• Spencer
• Wesley
• Colton
• Otis

All 216 names of English origin

What does the name Hugh mean?

Hugh means “heart”, “mind”, “spirit” in English.

What is the origin of the name Hugh?

From the Old French aristocratic and saint's name Hughe, brought to England by Normans, from a short form of Germanic names beginning with Proto-Germanic *hugiz (“heart, mind”), such as Hubert. Cognate with Old English hyġe (“mind, spirit, intellect”). More at high, how.

How popular is the name Hugh?

In 2025, 73 boys born in England and Wales were named Hugh, ranking 529th. Its peak was 1997, with 165 births.

What are nicknames for Hugh?

Common nicknames for Hugh include Huey, Hughie.

Is Hugh a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 84,179 US babies named Hugh since 1880 were boys.

When was Hugh most popular?

1916 in the United States, when 1,619 babies were named Hugh, its highest rank at 96th.

How do you pronounce Hugh?

Hugh is /hjuː/, one syllable.

What are other spellings of Hugh?

Hugo.

Is Hugh also a surname?

Yes. Hugh is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.