Hugo
Say it: HYOO-go/ˈhjuː.ɡəʊ/
BoyMeans mind, thought4 letters2 syllables
#42
in Ireland (2025)
#43 with spellings combined
117
babies in 2025
#43
best rank (2025)
1,687
babies since 1969
Up 48
10-year rank change
Hugo through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 117 | #43 |
| 2024 | 93 | #64 |
| 2023 | 105 | #59 |
| 2022 | 120 | #55 |
| 2021 | 108 | #66 |
| 2020 | 61 | #100 |
| 2019 | 87 | #78 |
| 2018 | 78 | #89 |
| 2017 | 78 | #92 |
| 2016 | 82 | #89 |
| 2015 | 80 | #91 |
| 2014 | 80 | #97 |
| 2013 | 67 | #107 |
| 2012 | 56 | #129 |
| 2011 | 64 | #117 |
| 2010 | 50 | #145 |
| 2009 | 58 | #129 |
| 2008 | 37 | #173 |
| 2007 | 23 | #210 |
| 2006 | 24 | #190 |
| 2005 | 24 | #172 |
| 2004 | 13 | #226 |
| 2003 | 18 | #179 |
| 2002 | 16 | #193 |
| 2001 | 19 | #165 |
| 2000 | 12 | #196 |
| 1999 | 14 | #184 |
| 1998 | 5 | #280 |
| 1997 | 9 | #242 |
| 1996 | 12 | #200 |
| 1995 | 4 | #301 |
| 1993 | 3 | #339 |
| 1992 | 9 | #210 |
| 1991 | 4 | #288 |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1989 | 6 | #232 |
| 1983 | 3 | #330 |
| 1982 | 3 | #330 |
| 1981 | 5 | #260 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
| 1979 | 7 | #245 |
| 1978 | 3 | #326 |
| 1977 | 6 | #253 |
| 1976 | 3 | #316 |
| 1974 | 3 | #321 |
| 1973 | 3 | #320 |
| 1972 | 3 | #307 |
| 1971 | 3 | #304 |
| 1969 | 3 | #291 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Hugo mean?
Mind, thought
Germanic, a Latin form of Hugh, from hugi (mind, spirit).
Say it right
HYOOgo
The story of Hugo
Hugo is the Latinised form of Hugh. Both go back to an old Germanic word, hugi, meaning mind, thought or spirit. Hugh came to England with the Normans, while Hugo is the form used in Latin and in several European languages. The French writer Victor Hugo made it famous as a surname.
In Ireland, Hugh was long used in English for the Irish name Aodh, which means “fire”, although the two names are not related. Hugo has followed its own path.
It first reached the CSO list in 1969 but stayed rare until the 2000s. It has climbed steadily since, and reached its best rank in 2025, at number 42 on the CSO list, with 117 boys. In Northern Ireland it was 48th that year, also its best place there.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Hugo (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Hugh (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Aodh (Irish proper noun)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Hugo | 117 | 1,687 |
In Northern Ireland
#48 in 2025 with 42 babies. Best rank #48 (2025); 300 babies since 2000.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.