How to say it
HU · go
ˈhjuː.goʊ
Masculine
Hugo
Mind, heart, spirit
What it means
The Latinized form of the Germanic Hugh, from hug, 'mind,' 'heart,' or 'spirit.'
Hugo is the Latin and Continental form of Hugh, from the Germanic hug, 'mind' or 'spirit.' It carries real cultural weight through Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables, and the science-fiction Hugo Awards named for editor Hugo Gernsback. Popular across France, Spain, Scandinavia, and Latin America, it reads vintage and dapper at once. It sits with Felix and Otto in the smart short-O-and-O crowd.
How to spell Hugo
The standard spelling is Hugo. Common variants include Hugh, Ugo, Huw, but Hugo is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #263 in 1881, currently #378 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
The Continental form of Hugh.
- Pop culture
Victor Hugo and the Hugo Awards keep it in the air.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Victor Hugo French author of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Spelling variants
- Hugh
- Ugo
- Huw
Names with the same feeling
See Hugo from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Hugo mean?
- The Latinized form of the Germanic Hugh, from hug, 'mind,' 'heart,' or 'spirit.'
- What does Hugo mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Hugo means "Mind, heart, spirit." Hugo is the Latin and Continental form of Hugh, from the Germanic hug, 'mind' or 'spirit.' It carries real cultural weight through Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables, and the science-fiction Hugo Awards named for editor Hugo Gernsback. Popular across France, Spain, Scandinavia, and Latin America, it reads vintage and dapper at once. It sits with Felix and Otto in the smart short-O-and-O crowd.
- How do you pronounce Hugo?
- Hugo is pronounced ˈhjuː.goʊ. Say it as HU-go, with the stress on the "hu" syllable.
- How do you spell Hugo?
- The standard spelling is Hugo. Common spelling variants include Hugh, Ugo, Huw.
- Is Hugo a boy or girl name?
- Hugo is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Hugo?
- Hugo ranked #378 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.