UK boy's name
Ugo
A masculine Italian name derived from the Germanic "Hugo", meaning "bright in mind and spirit".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ugo is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ugo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 3 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2005 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Ugo. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ugo ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 3 boys were registered as Ugo.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ugo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
3 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Ugo mean?
The name Ugo originated in Italy, derived from the Germanic name Hugo, which itself comes from the Old German words "hugu" meaning "heart, mind, or soul" and "gi" meaning "offspring, descendant." The name Ugo gained popularity in Italy during the medieval period, particularly in the northern regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ugo can be found in the 11th century, with Ugo of Cluny, a renowned Benedictine abbot and reformer who lived from around 1024 to 1109. He played a significant role in the Gregorian Reform movement within the Catholic Church.
Another notable figure bearing the name Ugo was Ugo Foscolo, an Italian writer, poet, and revolutionary who lived from 1778 to 1827. He is best known for his works such as "Ultime Lettere di Jacopo Ortis" and "Dei Sepolcri," which were influential in the Italian Romantic movement.
In the realm of art, Ugo Tognazzi, an Italian actor and director who lived from 1922 to 1990, left a lasting legacy. He is renowned for his comedic roles in films such as "La Cage aux Folles" and "Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man."
Another notable figure was Ugo Bassi, an Italian patriot and priest who lived from 1801 to 1849. He played an active role in the Italian unification movement and served as a chaplain in Giuseppe Garibaldi's army.
Ugo Fano, an Italian-American mathematician and physicist who lived from 1912 to 2001, made significant contributions to the field of quantum mechanics and group theory. He is known for his work on the Fano resonance and the Fano factor in nuclear physics.
While the name Ugo has its roots in Italy, it has also been used in other parts of the world, particularly in communities with Italian heritage or influence. However, the name's strongest historical ties remain in Italy, where it has been a part of the cultural and historical fabric for centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ugo over time
The chart below shows babies named Ugo registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ugo, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ugo by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ugo was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4954 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4812 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Ugo
- Umar 4,932
- Usman 2,413
- Uzair 1,549
- Umair 1,044
- Uthman 531
- Usmaan 476
- Uwais 438
- Ubaid 383
- Umer 325
- Umut 303
- Uzayr 299
- Uriel 276
FAQ
Ugo: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ugo in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ugo was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ugo most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 3 babies registered as Ugo in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ugo?
A masculine Italian name derived from the Germanic "Hugo", meaning "bright in mind and spirit".
How many people are called Ugo in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Ugo across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.