Hugh
How to say it: HYOO · /ˈhju/
From Old Germanic 'hug' meaning mind, heart, spirit; carried into English via Norman French.
Hugh was the 676th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 360 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are up about 35% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #628 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #676 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 360 |
| Share of births | 1 in 9,209 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | +35% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #628 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Present in every generation since the 1880s, Hugh now stands far below its early high while remaining in steady use. A small lift is likely over the next few years.
What goes with it
A single breathy syllable, pronounced HYOO, gives Hugh a quiet strength. Henry echoes that sturdy character.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Hugh is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, German.
Ireland: #180.
Famous people named Hugh
- Hugh Grant (born 1960)British actor
- Hugh Laurie (born 1959)English actor, comedian, director, musician and writer
- Hugh David Politzer (born 1949)American physicist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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