Hugo is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #46 in 2024. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Germanic — Mind, intellect
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UK Rank 2024
#46
US Rank #403
About the Name Hugo
Hugo is holding steady in the rankings at #46. It reached its peak of #45 in 2021 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has featured in the UK top 100 for 13 years, demonstrating solid mainstream recognition.
In terms of origin, Hugo is rooted in Germanic, where it means "Mind, intellect". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Hugo is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #403 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Hugo
Unlikely. With around 1,094 UK babies named Hugo per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Hugo in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Hugo has held a stable position around #46 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #45 in 2021 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Hugo has Germanic origins and means "Mind, intellect". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Hugo include: Hugo Souza — Hugo de Souza Nogueira, known as Hugo Souza (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈugu ˈsowzɐ]), is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for...; Hugo Speer — Hugo Alexander Speer is an English actor and director.; Hugo Ekitike — Hugo Timothée Ekitike is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the France national team..
Hugo appears in the US top 500 at #403 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
1,094
UK babies named Hugo (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.6
In a school of 600
→ Stable
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Hugo
Likely around 1 other Hugo in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Hugo
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Hugo de Souza Nogueira, known as Hugo Souza (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈugu ˈsowzɐ]), is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Corinthians and the Brazil national team. He is sometimes nicknamed Neneca in tribute to the late Guarani goalkeeper Hélio Miguel.
Hugo Alexander Speer is an English actor and director. He is best known for playing Guy in The Full Monty, Inspector Valentine in Father Brown, Captain Treville in The Musketeers, Lucius in Britannia, Frank Young in Marcella and DI David Bradford in London Kills.
General Hugo Rafael Martínez Poveda was a Colombian police general. He was assigned the new commander of the Search Bloc, a unit of the National Police of Colombia assembled by President Virgilio Barco Vargas in 1986; he was tasked with the sole objective of the apprehension of drug lord Pablo Escobar and his associates.
Hugo Timothée Ekitike is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the France national team. Ekitike began his professional career at 18 with Reims, playing for their reserves team before being called up to the senior squad in 2020.
Hugo Ferdinand Boss was a German businessman who founded the fashion house Hugo Boss. He was an active member of the Nazi Party from 1931, and remained so until Nazi Germany's capitulation.
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías was a Venezuelan politician, revolutionary, and military officer who was the president of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013. Chávez was also leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when it merged with several other parties to form the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which he led until his death.
Adèle Hugo was the fifth and youngest child of French writer Victor Hugo. She is remembered for developing schizophrenia as a young woman, which led to a romantic obsession with a British military officer who rejected her.