A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Hughes since 1896
Babies named Hughes per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 190 |
| 1920s | 135 |
| 1930s | 90 |
| 1940s | 76 |
| 1950s | 73 |
| 1960s | 21 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 26 |
| 1990s | 29 |
| 2000s | 43 |
| 2010s | 105 |
| 2020s | 119 |
Meaning & origin
Hughes is a rare given name with a distinctly surname-like character, ranking 4249th in the United States as of 2025. It was first recorded in 1896 and saw its peak popularity in 1916, during the height of the surname-as-first-name trend. After decades of decline, Hughes has been rising again since 1994, making it part of a revival of vintage, no-nonsense names. With a current incidence of 1 in 71,170 newborns, it remains an uncommon choice, appealing to parents who value understated, heritage-driven names over trendier options.
Hughes is a patronymic surname turned given name, derived from the medieval personal name Hugh. Hugh itself comes from the Old French name Hugues, which originated from the Germanic element 'hug' meaning 'heart, mind, spirit.' The name Hughes was first recorded as a given name in the United States in 1896, reflecting a tradition of using surnames as first names, particularly in the American South and among families wishing to honor a maternal surname.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hugh
Sibling names for Hughes
Names that share Hughes's style, for a brother or sister.
