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Hugh

Quick answerHugh derives from the Germanic name Hugo, which comes from the root "hug" meaning "mind" or "intellect," combined with the suffix denoting "heart" or "spirit." The name has been predominant in English-speaking countries and Christian cultures, particularly popularized by Saint Hugh of Lincoln and various European…

English · Boy · 1 syllable

H
Top 1,000

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#732
TrendStable
Peak year1916
Syllables1
OriginEnglish
LanguageEnglish
CultureEnglish
ReligionChristianity
Letters4
Numerology8 Chaldean 1
Global rank#159

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Hugh

Hugh derives from the Germanic name Hugo, which comes from the root "hug" meaning "mind" or "intellect," combined with the suffix denoting "heart" or "spirit." The name has been predominant in English-speaking countries and Christian cultures, particularly popularized by Saint Hugh of Lincoln and various European nobility, with notable historical bearers including Hugh Capet, founder of the Capetian dynasty.

Cross-referenced with Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

Hugh derives from the Germanic name Hugo, which comes from the root "hug" meaning "mind" or "intellect," combined with the suffix denoting "heart" or "spirit." The name has been predominant in English-speaking countries and Christian cultures, particularly popularized by Saint Hugh of Lincoln and various European nobility, with notable historical bearers including Hugh Capet, founder of the Capetian dynasty.

Hugh currently ranks #732 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1916.

Variants & nicknames

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"Hughie is a diminutive form of Hugh, derived from the Germanic name Hugo, which comes from the root "hug" meaning…"

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Hege
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"The name 'Hege' is a Norwegian and Danish diminutive of 'Helga', derived from the Old Norse *heill* meaning "holy" or…"

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Hayk
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"Hayk means "Armenian" or is derived from the legendary patriarch Hayk, the founder of the Armenian nation, from the Old…"

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