Hans
Hans is a male given name in Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Faroese, German, Norwegian, Icelandic and Swedish-speaking populations. It was originally short for Johannes (Ioannes), but is now also recognized as a name in its own right for official purposes. The earliest documented usage was in 1356 in Sweden, 1360 in Norway, and the 14th century in Denmark.
Meaning & Origin of Hans
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Hans is a male given name in Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Faroese, German, Norwegian, Icelandic and Swedish-speaking populations. It was originally short for Johannes (Ioannes), but is now also recognized as a name in its own right for official purposes. The earliest documented usage was in 1356 in Sweden, 1360 in Norway, and the 14th century in Denmark.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Hans
Hans first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 21 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1970, when 271 Hanss were born — ranking #492 that year. As of 2026, Hans ranks #1,360 for baby boys with 140 births, holding steady (+4%). In total, more than 16K Hanss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Hans
Phonetically similar names — useful when Hans is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hans
What does the name Hans mean?
How popular is Hans in 2026?
When was Hans most popular?
In which U.S. states is Hans most popular?
Is Hans a unisex name?
What names go well with Hans?
About the name Hans
Hans is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 16K births in the dataset. Hans's peak popularity came in 1970 when it ranked #290. Use the chart and map above to compare Hans's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1970 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "H" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.