Hugo first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Hugo has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Hugo

A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "bright in mind and spirit".

Popularity of Hugo by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Hugo is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Hugo being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 765 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Hugo.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 765 0
2022 794 0
2021 712 0
2020 709 6
2019 647 0
2018 733 0
2017 750 0
2016 722 0
2015 708 0
2014 695 0
2013 656 0
2012 639 0
2011 618 0
2010 615 0
2009 722 0
2008 779 0
2007 740 0
2006 811 0
2005 796 0
2004 759 0
2003 727 0
2002 715 0
2001 637 0
2000 638 0
1999 598 0
1998 570 0
1997 530 0
1996 519 0
1995 528 0
1994 548 0
1993 585 8
1992 613 6
1991 566 0
1990 552 6
1989 524 0
1988 421 0
1987 369 5
1986 368 0
1985 344 0
1984 298 0
1983 293 0
1982 350 5
1981 426 0
1980 340 0
1979 304 0
1978 220 0
1977 255 0
1976 242 0
1975 241 0
1974 251 0

The history of the first name Hugo

The name Hugo has its origins in the Germanic languages, derived from the Old German word "hug" meaning "heart, mind, or soul." It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 8th or 9th century.

The name's earliest recorded use can be traced back to the Frankish and Carolingian dynasties in what is now present-day France and Germany. One of the most notable historical figures with this name was Hugo Capet, who was crowned as the first King of France in 987, establishing the Capetian dynasty that would rule until the French Revolution.

In medieval literature, the name appears in various chronicles and tales, such as the Nibelungenlied, an epic poem from around the 13th century, where Hugo is mentioned as a brave warrior and nobleman.

Moving forward in history, Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) was a Dutch jurist, philosopher, and theologian, renowned for his work in laying the foundations of modern international law. His seminal work, "On the Law of War and Peace," published in 1625, is considered a landmark in legal studies.

Another prominent figure was Victor Hugo (1802-1885), the celebrated French poet, novelist, and dramatist. He is best known for his literary masterpieces, including "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame." His works had a profound impact on French literature and culture, and he is regarded as one of the greatest writers of the Romantic era.

In the realm of science, Hugo de Vries (1848-1935), a Dutch botanist and geneticist, made significant contributions to the understanding of heredity and the laws of genetics. He is credited with rediscovering Gregor Mendel's principles of heredity and is considered one of the pioneers of modern genetics.

Lastly, Hugo Chávez (1954-2013) was a Venezuelan politician and military officer who served as the President of Venezuela from 1999 until his death. He was a prominent figure in Latin American politics, known for his socialist policies and his vocal opposition to American influence in the region.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Hugo was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hugo, please contact us.

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"Hugo first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/hugo-meaning-and-history/.

"Hugo first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/hugo-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Hugo first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/hugo-meaning-and-history/.

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