Hugo
Hugo is a boys' name of German origin meaning “mind, intellect.” It ranked #378 in the United States in 2025. Hugo derives from the Germanic 'hug' meaning 'mind' or 'spirit.
how do you pronounce Hugo?
HYOO-go
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Hugo mean?
The name Hugo means “mind, intellect.” It comes from the German language tradition.
Hugo derives from the Germanic 'hug' meaning 'mind' or 'spirit.' Victor Hugo, the French literary giant, is its most famous bearer. It has long been a top name in France and Spain and is now climbing in English-speaking countries.
where does the name Hugo come from?
Wiktionary derives Hugo from a Germanic root meaning "thought, mind, spirit," matching the existing "mind, intellect" gloss; one entry adds it is probably a short form of a compound name meaning something like "bright by one's mind."
the history of Hugo
Wikipedia notes the English form of Hugo is Hugh and the Italian form is Ugo; the sources are silent on Victor Hugo or the name's ranking in France and Spain.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #378 |
| 2024 | #404 |
| 2023 | #415 |
| 2022 | #400 |
| 2021 | #437 |
| 2020 | #421 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Hugo?
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Hugo?
- Victor Hugo (French novelist, Les Miserables)
- Hugo Weaving (Australian actor)
- Hugo Boss (German fashion designer)
what names are similar to Hugo?
what names go well with Hugo?
Sibling names that share Hugo's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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