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Hew

Boy name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Hew: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 3 births in 1981.

A traditional Scottish form of Hugh, Hew traces its roots to the Old Germanic element *hug*, meaning “heart,” “mind,” or “spirit,” and was widely adopted in Scotland through Norman influence. Notable bearers include Sir Hew Dalrymple, Lord North Berwick, a 17th-century Scottish jurist, and Hew Lorimer, the distinguished sculptor who carved many of Scotland’s post-war ecclesiastical figures. The name also echoes in place names such as Heworth, a village in Tyne and Wear whose first element shares the same root. Hew remains a strong, historically resonant choice, closely tied to Clan MacLeod and often seen as a revival pick among parents seeking a distinctly Caledonian alternative to the more common Hugh.