Hugh is a classic male given name of Old French origin. It is derived from the Germanic elements "hug" meaning "heart" and "ric" meaning "power". Therefore, the name Hugh means "strong in heart" or "heart of power". The name was introduced to France by the Normans during their invasion in the 11th century and has since become popular in both French-speaking countries and English-speaking nations. Hugh was a common name among royalty and nobility throughout medieval Europe, with some notable bearers including Saint Hugh of Lincoln, who was a 13th-century English bishop known for his acts of charity and compassion. Today, Hugh remains a classic and timeless name choice for boys, carrying with it a rich history and strong meaning.
The name Hugh has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States, as indicated by the annual birth statistics from 1911 to 2017.
From 1911 to 1923, there was a steady increase in babies named Hugh, peaking at 18 births in 1923. However, this trend reversed in the following years, with only 6 or fewer births per year from 1934 onwards until 1950.
There was another brief spike in popularity during the late 1950s and early 1960s, with a peak of 9 births in 1968. After this point, there were consistently low numbers of babies named Hugh each year, ranging from 5 to 9 births per year.
The total number of births in the United States for the name Hugh between 1911 and 2017 is 354. While it's clear that Hugh was once a popular choice for parents, its popularity has since waned over time. Despite this decline in popularity, there are still families who choose to honor this classic name each year.