Pronunciation: [hjˈuː] (IPA) 
The name "Hugh" is typically spelled with a silent "gh," which can be confusing for English language learners. The correct IPA phonetic transcription of "Hugh" is /hju/, with the "h" representing the initial sound and the "u" producing the "oo" sound. The "gh" is not pronounced but historically served to indicate a guttural sound in Middle English. Despite its silent presence, the "gh" has remained in the spelling of the name Hugh.
Hugh is a masculine given name of English origin. The name has its roots in the Germanic language and is derived from the Old High German word "hug," which means "heart" or "mind." It is also related to the German word "hoch," meaning "high" or "tall."
As a personal name, Hugh has been in use for centuries and has gained popularity across various English-speaking countries. It can be found in different variations such as Huw, Hugo, and Hew. Despite its ancient origins, Hugh remains a timeless and classic name that has stood the test of time.
People named Hugh are often associated with positive traits such as intelligence, kindness, and leadership. They are generally well-rounded individuals who strive for excellence in all they do. Hughs are known for their caring nature and are often seen as reliable friends and family members.
In addition to being a given name, Hugh can also be a surname. It is common for surnames to originate from personal names, so the surname "Hugh" can be used to refer to a family lineage. Surnames like this can provide insight into a person's ancestry and heritage.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The name Hugh has a Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old High German word "hug" which means "heart", "mind" or "spirit". The name was brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and gained popularity throughout the medieval period.
