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Hughes

♂ Boy

Pronounced HYOOZ /ˈhjuz/Medium

Meaning: From the surname Hughes — 'son of Hugh', from Germanic hug, 'mind, heart, spirit, intellect'Medium

In 30 seconds: Sharp and distinguished: Hughes is 'son of Hugh' — 'mind, intellect'. Crisp, surname-cool, and warm (poet Langston Hughes).

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Origin MediumGerman, Welsh

MeaningFrom the surname Hughes — 'son of Hugh', from Germanic hug, 'mind, heart, spirit, intellect'

U.S. rank (2024)#4932 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births20 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1916

Total births (all-time)≈ 894

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hughes comes from the surname Hughes — 'son of Hugh', from Germanic hug, 'mind, heart, spirit, intellect' (common in Wales). A crisp, distinguished surname-name (Langston Hughes; Howard Hughes); said 'HYOOZ'.

It registers thinly as a first name. Rare, son-of-Hugh at the root, and distinguished.

Did you know? Hughes means 'son of Hugh' (Hugh from Germanic hug, 'mind, intellect, spirit') — a crisp surname-name (poet Langston Hughes; aviator Howard Hughes).

Overall data confidence 68%

Surname references — Hughes — etymology

Variations

HughHughs

Nicknames

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If you like Hughes…

Hugh— the root name

Huxley— a fellow Hu- name

Brooks— a companion -s surname-name

Banks— another -s surname-name

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By themesurname-name german welsh

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hughes mean?

Hughes means 'son of Hugh' — Germanic 'mind, intellect, spirit'.

How do you pronounce Hughes?

It's said HYOOZ /ˈhjuz/ — a single syllable.

Is Hughes a boy or girl name?

Hughes is a boy's name.

How popular is Hughes?

Hughes is a rare first name in the U.S.