When was Hugo most popular?

The name Hugo reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Hugo Lau?

The name Hugo Lau combines two different traditions: the first name Hugo has Germanic roots, while the surname Lau originates from Vietnamese.

Hugo Lau — 35K & 30K bearers

Hugo Lau is a name that combines Germanic origins. The first name Hugo is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. Hugo is a surname and a masculine given name of German origin. The English version of the name is Hugh, the Italian version is Ugo. The name Hugo is actually a short form of old names like Hugbert and Hugbald. The name is derived from Old High German hugu, meaning 'sense, mind, thought', and hugōn, meaning 'to think'. In other words, Hugo means thinker or clever. Hugo is one of the most popular given names in Europe, ranking as high as #8 in Belgium in 2006. The surname Lau: Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn. Hugo is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 35K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Hugo reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Hugo

Germanic

Hugo is a surname and a masculine given name of German origin. The English version of the name is Hugh, the Italian version is Ugo. The name Hugo is actually a short form of old names like Hugbert and Hugbald. The name is derived from Old High German hugu, meaning 'sense, mind, thought', and hugōn, meaning 'to think'. In other words, Hugo means thinker or clever. Hugo is one of the most popular given names in Europe, ranking as high as #8 in Belgium in 2006.

Surname: Lau

Vietnamese

Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Hugo is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 52%

United Kingdom 28%

Australia 12%

Canada 8%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Hugo by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Hugo Lau

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Hugo Lau:

4

Expression Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

4

Soul Urge Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

9

Personality Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Hugo?: The first name Hugo originates from Germanic. Hugo is a surname and a masculine given name of German origin. The English version of the name is Hugh, the Italian version is Ugo. The name Hugo is actually a short form of old names like Hugbert and Hugbald. The name is derived from Old High German hugu, meaning 'sense, mind, thought', and hugōn, meaning 'to think'. In other words, Hugo means thinker or clever. Hugo is one of the most popular given names in Europe, ranking as high as #8 in Belgium in 2006.
When was Hugo most popular?: The name Hugo reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Lau?: The surname Lau originates from Vietnamese. Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.
What are the origins of the name Hugo Lau?: The name Hugo Lau combines two different traditions: the first name Hugo has Germanic roots, while the surname Lau originates from Vietnamese.