Hugh is a name of Old French origin, derived from the Germanic name Hugo. The name Hugo itself comes from the Germanic elements "hug" meaning "heart" or "mind", and "-bert" meaning "bright" or "famous". Therefore, Hugh can be interpreted to mean "heart of brightness" or "mind of fame".
The name Hugh was brought to England by the Normans in the 11th century after their conquest of England. It quickly became popular among the nobility and was used for several kings of Scotland, including King Hugh of Scotland who ruled from 1107 to 1134.
Throughout history, Hugh has been associated with many notable figures. One famous bearer of the name is St. Hugh of Lincoln, a 12th-century English bishop who was canonized after his death. He is remembered as a holy man and is considered the patron saint of sick children.
The name Hugh has also appeared in literature, most notably in Shakespeare's play "Henry IV," where one of the main characters is named Prince Hal, whose full name is Henry V of England. In the play, Prince Hal's friend, Sir John Falstaff, often refers to him as "Hal" or "Harry," but occasionally calls him "Hugh," suggesting that it was a nickname used among his friends.
Today, Hugh remains a popular name in English-speaking countries. It has consistently ranked among the top 1000 names for boys since the mid-20th century and has shown signs of increasing popularity in recent years.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends regarding the number of babies named Hugh born annually in the United States from 1880 to 2023.
From 1880 to around 1965, the annual births with the name Hugh fluctuated between a low of 435 in 1971 and a high of 967 in 1914. During this period, the number of Hughs born per year showed significant variability, ranging from hundreds to nearly a thousand births annually.
However, after 1965, there was a notable decline in the popularity of the name Hugh. By 1973, the number of Hugh births had dropped below 300 and continued to decrease throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, reaching a low of 142 births in 1993.
Interestingly, since around the mid-1990s, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of the name Hugh. From 1996 onwards, the number of annual Hugh births began to rise steadily, reaching over 200 births per year by 2007 and continuing to increase until 2023, with 320 births recorded that year.
Overall, while the name Hugh experienced a significant decline in popularity from the mid-1960s to the early 1990s, it has since seen a comeback, with increasing numbers of babies being named Hugh in recent years. As of 2023, Hugh is once again a popular choice for parents in the United States, with over 300 births recorded that year.