Hugh

Once upon a time, there was a 10th-century Frankish king by the name of Hugh Capet. His name was mostly restricted to such nobility until the Normans brought Hugh to England. 

As a name with Germanic roots meaning "mind, thought, spirit," it is no wonder the name with intelligent etymology remained in consistent use among English speakers from the Middle Ages. Hugh's long history gave him multiple namesakes, from the 12th-century bishop St. Hugh of Lincoln to Australian actor Hugh Jackman and beyond. 

In England, Hugh ranked among the top 50 most years before 1700, after which the Latin Hugo rose. Hugh remained a top 100 pick through the Victorian era until the 1950s. He has continued to decline since, now being nearly out of the top 500. 

As an American name, Hugh was a top 100 name through 1902, and again in 1916. He declined until he briefly fell out of the top 1000 in 2006 and 2008. Since 2009, Hugh has been rising again. He has only since reached the 700s, though. It can be, as name experts suggest, the nature of Hugh's sound.

Elsewhere in the English-speaking world, Hugh was a top 100 pick in Canada through 1949 and in New Zealand through 1957. He has yet to return in both nations, and in England and Wales (as referenced above). For now, Hugh's revival is quite American, and quite slow. 

On a positive note, Hugh will not get too popular for a while. For parents disappointed about Henry's popularity, Hugh can make an ideal substitute. Hugo is an alternative for those bothered by Hugh's sound. 

POPULARITY: #750-1000

FAMOUS REAL-LIFE NAMESAKES:

• 10th-century Frankish King Hugh Capet (c. 941-996)
• Frankish abbot Saint Hugh of Cluny (1024-1109)
• 12th-century bishop and Saint Hugh of Lincoln (1135-1200)
• 12th-century Saint Hugh of Genoa (1148-1233)
• Playboy magazine publisher Hugh Hefner (1926-2017)
• American filmmaker Hugh Wilson (1943-2018)
• British actor Hugh Grant (1960-)
• Australian actor Hugh Jackman (1968-)
• English actor Hugh Dancy (1975-)

FAMOUS FICTIONAL NAMESAKES:

• Sir Hugh Mortimer in Shakespeare's play 3 Henry VI (1591)
• Sir Hugh Evans in Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor (1602)

VARIANTS: Hew, Hughes, Hugo, Huw

NICKNAMES: Huey

SISTERS: Adele, Dorothy, Flora, Helen, Jane, Louise, Martha, Pearl, Ruth, Sylvia

BROTHERS: Albert, Cecil, Ernest, Frank, Ira, Leon, Otto, Ralph, Simon, Walter

ALTERNATIVES: Blaise, Gus, Hans, Hubert, Humphrey, Ives, Jules, Luther, Rex, Rufus

NAME LISTS: Alternatives to Henry, Formal Boys' Names, Timeless Boys' Names

FURTHER RESOURCES:

"Hugh." Names, Behind the Name, 23 Apr. 2024, https://www.behindthename.com/name/hugh.

Nickerson, Eleanor. "Hugo." Names of the Week, British Baby Names, 22 Apr. 

2017, https://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2017/04/name-of-the-week-hugo.html. 

Sandel, Abby. "Hugh: Baby Name of the Day." Master List: Boy Names, Appellation Mountain, 9 Jun. 2014, https://appellationmountain.net/hugh-baby-name-day/. 

What do you think about the name Hugh?