Hugh

Meaning: Mind, spirit
Origin: From Germanic, via Old French

Nicknames: Hughie, Huey

Boy's name · #732 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Hugh holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#732 in 2025). About 84,000 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Hugh is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 35 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Hugh ranks in other countries and regions.

#165 in N. Ireland (2025) · #180 in Ireland (2025) · #285 in Scotland (2025) · #359 in New Zealand (2025) · #531 in England & Wales (2025) · #462 in Canada (2024).

Famous Hughs

Hugh Jackman — Australian actor and singer
Hugh Grant — British actor
Hugh Laurie — English actor, comedian, director, musician and writer
Hugh Hefner — American businessman and magazine publisher (1926–2017)
Hugh Capet of France — King of the Franks

In stories & tradition

Hugh (Bulldog Drummond) — Bulldog Drummond (book)
Hugh Culber — Star Trek: Discovery (TV series)
Hugh Fitzcairn — Highlander: The Series (TV series)

What Hughs become

Among 2,978 notable people named Hugh:

Military figures appear 3.28× more often than among typical names — e.g. Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding, British officer in the Royal Air Force (1882–1970).

Similar names: Otis · Hugo · Ray · Ulysses · Louie · Lee

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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