Hugh
Boy name · #732 in 2025 · Uniqueness 56/100
Hugh ranks #732 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 360 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #847, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,000 boys born in 2025 was named Hugh.
Babies named Hugh per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Hugh first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 224 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1916, when 1,619 boys were named Hugh — good for #96 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Hugh against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Hugh in class?
Hugh scores 56 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Hugh is most common
Geography matters for names, and Hugh is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Hughs were CA (30), TX (27), NY (21), IL (17), MA (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Hugh
Statistically, parents drawn to Hugh tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Harry, Otis, Clyde, Ben, and Sam.
HarryOtisClydeBenSamAmosLyleHiram
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Hugh | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 360 | #732 |
| 2024 | 333 | #762 |
| 2023 | 323 | #782 |
| 2022 | 312 | #804 |
| 2021 | 343 | #742 |
| 2020 | 324 | #748 |
| 2019 | 287 | #799 |
| 2018 | 281 | #805 |
| 2017 | 264 | #837 |
| 2016 | 264 | #849 |
| 2015 | 265 | #847 |
| 2014 | 255 | #864 |
| 2013 | 227 | #914 |
| 2012 | 220 | #930 |
| 2011 | 210 | #943 |
| 2010 | 206 | #961 |
| 2009 | 199 | #991 |
| 2008 | 195 | #1002 |
| 2007 | 200 | #981 |
| 2006 | 184 | #1000 |
| 2005 | 182 | #959 |
| 2004 | 184 | #923 |
| 2003 | 194 | #879 |
| 2002 | 191 | #866 |
| 2001 | 187 | #858 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hugh a popular boy name?
Hugh ranked #732 among boys in 2025 with 360 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #847.
When was the name Hugh most popular?
Hugh peaked in 1916, when 1,619 American boys received the name (ranked #96 that year). Since 1916 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Hugh?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,000 newborn American boys was named Hugh. It scores 56/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.