The first name Hugo

In 2025, 1,094 boys were named Hugo, making it the 46th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2019, with 1,329 births (#48).

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

In 2025, 837 boys born in the United States were named Hugo, the 378th most popular boys’ name that year.

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.

• Hugo Chávez
  30th and 33rd President of Venezuela, 1954–2013
• Hugo Grotius
  Dutch jurist and scholar (1583-1645)
• Hugo Lloris
  French footballer (born 1986)
• Hugo von Hofmannsthal
  Austrian novelist, librettist, poet, dramatist (1874–1929)
• Hugo de Vries
  Dutch botanist (1848-1935)
• Hugo Theorell
  Biochemist (1903-1982)
• Hugo Wolf
  Austrian composer (1860–1903)
• Hugo Campagnaro
  Argentine association football player, born 1980
• Hugo Ball
  German author, poet and one of the leading Dada artists (1886–1927)
• Hugo Gunckel Lüer
  Chilean botanist (1901–1997)
• Hugo Gernsback
  American inventor, writer, editor and publisher (1884–1967)
• Hugo Junkers
  German aviation pioneer (1859–1935)

What does the name Hugo mean?

Hugo means “thought”, “mind”, “spirit”.

How popular is the name Hugo?

In 2025, 1,094 boys born in England and Wales were named Hugo, ranking 46th. Its peak was 2019, with 1,329 births.

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

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 37,518 US babies named Hugo since 1880 were boys.

When was Hugo most popular?

2025 in the United States, when 837 babies were named Hugo, its highest rank at 378th.

How do you pronounce Hugo?

Hugo is /ˈhju.ɡoʊ/, 2 syllables.

What name is Hugo a form of?

Hugo is a form of Hugh.

Is Hugo also a surname?

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