Hughes
Boy name · English · German · Irish
Meaningson of Hugh · English
- US rank
- #4,249
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #790 in 1916
24 babies were named Hughes in the US in 2025. It has climbed 606 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1896–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Hughes you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 70,922 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Hughes, 24 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Hughes would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryHughes first shows up in US birth records in 1896, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 129 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1916, when it ranked #790. Today it's #4,249, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendHughes has climbed 606 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #4,249. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn English, Hughes means “son of Hugh”. Our records link it to English, German and Irish roots.
About the name Hughes
Hughes is a boy name of English, German and Irish origin meaning “son of Hugh”. It has 6 letters and 1 syllable, starting with H and ending in “-hes”. US birth records list Hughes for boys from 1896 to 2025, in 81 of those 130 years. Its best year was 1916, when it ranked #790 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #4,249, with 24 babies.
Origin:English namesGerman namesIrish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 13 | 79,681 boys |
| 1910s | 24 | 41,322 boys |
| 1920s | 12 | 81,566 boys |
| 1930s | 8.5 | 117,786 boys |
| 1940s | 5.4 | 184,162 boys |
| 1950s | 3.7 | 272,480 boys |
| 1960s | 1.1 | 877,193 boys |
| 1970s | 0.4 | 2,702,703 boys |
| 1980s | 1.4 | 709,220 boys |
| 1990s | 1.5 | 671,141 boys |
| 2000s | 2.1 | 467,290 boys |
| 2010s | 5.6 | 178,571 boys |
| 2020s | 11 | 87,083 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Hughes
What does the name Hughes mean?
Hughes means “son of Hugh” in English.
What is the origin of the name Hughes?
Hughes has English, German, Irish roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Hughes a boy or girl name?
Hughes is a boy name.
How popular is the name Hughes?
Hughes ranked #4,249 for US boys in 2025, given to 24 babies. Its best year was 1916 (#790).