Hugo Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Hugo has its origins in the Germanic word meaning 'heart' or 'mind'. It evolved through historical forms such as Hugon and Hugues before reaching its modern form. The name is often associated with nobility and intellect, though it lacks biblical relevance. Today, Hugo is seen as a timeless name with a positive image, represented by several notable figures.
The name Hugo is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Hugo has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Hugo' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 443rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 706th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 834th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 565th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 436th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 404th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 425th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16689th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 28476th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Hugo' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Hugo"
Pronunciation
/ˈhjuːɡoʊ/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
The name Hugo is derived from the Germanic word 'hug', which means 'heart', 'mind', or 'spirit'. It was popularized in the Middle Ages and has roots in various languages.
Meaning
mind, spirit, heart
Language Evolution
Hugon (Old High German), Hugues (Old French), Hugo (Latin)
Historical Usage
Hugo gained popularity in the Middle Ages, especially in France and among the nobility. It became widely used due to the influence of Saint Hugo of Lincoln in the 12th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Hugh, Hugo, Hughes
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Hugo is perceived as a classic yet modern name, often associated with intelligence and creativity. It remains a popular choice in many countries.
Famous People
Victor Hugo, Hugo Weaving, Hugo Boss
Explore More Hugo Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Hugo"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Hugo"
"Hugo" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 443rd of 7545 | 2,899 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 706th of 6773 | 1,409 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 834th of 7552 | 1,534 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 565th of 10718 | 3,283 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 436th of 16616 | 7,306 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 404th of 24088 | 10,895 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 425th of 23106 | 8,701 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 16689th of 27321 | 30 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 28476th of 30306 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Hugo" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
23.02% 326th/1416 |
23.50% 324th/1379 |
35.71% 845th/2366 |
39.93% 456th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
35.90% 555th/1546 |
28.92% 450th/1556 |
39.61% 932nd/2353 |
38.59% 597th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
39.96% 890th/2227 |
31.07% 755th/2430 |
27.20% 776th/2853 |
20.47% 568th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
24.72% 726th/2937 |
16.31% 568th/3483 |
16.57% 583rd/3518 |
9.15% 370th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
18.18% 670th/3685 |
15.49% 693rd/4475 |
9.99% 519th/5194 |
4.08% 258th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
13.25% 607th/4582 |
10.63% 549th/5164 |
6.37% 466th/7313 |
3.74% 279th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
13.18% 525th/3984 |
9.23% 414th/4487 |
7.26% 495th/6822 |
5.13% 322nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Hugo" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 6317th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Hugo"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Hugo" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.