How Many People Are Named Hugh?
Complete statistics for the name Hugh: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Hugh means 'mind' or 'spirit', a rare gem among names, with just 1 in 10,402 Americans bearing it. That's around 31,724 people today, most of whom are over 60, making it a classic, old-school choice.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, the life-path number 8 symbolizes power, authority, and success.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 83All 83,596 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1916Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Hugh Through the Generations
Hugh has seen its popularity ebb and flow over the decades, peaking in 1916 with 1,626 births. Today, it's a name that's mostly associated with older generations, with 68,516 people over 60, compared to just 6,583 under 30. This trend suggests that while Hugh remains a cherished name, it's more likely to be found in family histories than on newborns' birth certificates.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Hugh
Hugh is the English-language variant of the masculine given name Hugues, itself the Old French variant of Hugo, a short form of Continental Germanic given names beginning in the element *hug- "mind, spirit".…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Hugh's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Hugh
How Many People Have the Name Hugh?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,146 people in the United States currently share the name Hugh. That works out to roughly 1 in every 289,223 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Hugh a Common or Rare Name?
Hugh is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Hugh Mean?
Hugh means "mind, spirit" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Hugh in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Hugh Most Popular?
The name Hugh reached peak popularity in 1916, with 1,626 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Hugh?
Approximately 1,146 people named Hugh live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,146. That works out to roughly 1 in 289,223 Americans.
Is Hugh a rare name?
Hugh is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 289,223 Americans has this name.
What does the name Hugh mean?
Hugh means "mind, spirit" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Hugh more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Hugh are male and 0% are female.
When was Hugh most popular?
Hugh peaked in 1916 with 1,626 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.