Boy · #1,360 in 2026

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.

  • German
  • Dutch
  • Swedish
  • Norwegian
Current Rank
#1,360
Peak Rank
#290 (1970)
Total Babies
16K
5-Yr Trend
+4%
1969
First Year
1969
Last Year
1969
Peak Year
#7472
Peak Rank
5
Total Count
1
Years Active

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 →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • German
  • Dutch
  • Swedish
  • Norwegian
  • Danish

The Story of Hans

The earliest SSA record of Hans as a baby boy name dates back to 1880, when 21 babies received it. 1970 was its biggest year on record, with 271 newborns named Hans — #492 in the national rankings. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,360 among baby boy names 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

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Hans

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Hans. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

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?
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.
What is the origin of the name Hans?
Hans has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish.
How popular is Hans in 2026?
In 2026, Hans ranks #1,360 among boys' names in the U.S., with 140 babies given the name that year.
When was Hans most popular?
Hans reached its peak popularity in 1970, ranking #290 that year with 271 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Hans most popular?
Hans has historically been most popular in Alaska, Nebraska, South Dakota. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Hans.
Is Hans a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Hans is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Hans?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Hans include Hollis, Shepherd, Claud. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Hans?
Common variants and related forms of Hans include Hampus, Hannes, Hänsel, Hasse, Ivan, Jan. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

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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

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.