The story behind Hans
Borrowed from German Hans (occasionally used in English), a medieval short form of Johannes (“John”).
Other language forms and explanations (3)
Danish entry
From German Hans, a medieval short form of Johannes (“John”).
Finnish entry
From German Hans.
Swedish entry
From German Hans, a medieval short form of Johannes (“John”). First recorded in Sweden in 1356.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈhæns/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈhænz/
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈhɑːns/
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈhɑːnz/
- Danish; stressed: [ˈhanˀs]
- Finnish: /ˈhɑns/
- Finnish: [ˈhɑ̝ns̠]
- Swedish: /hɑːns/
Popularity
Hans ranked #1325 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Hans
Claus
From Dutch and German Claus, a contraction of Nicolaus (“Nicholas”). The spelling Klaus is from more modern German Klaus and other Germanic languages.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Frits
Borrowed from German Fritz, diminutive of Friedrich (“Frederick”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Hannes
Variant of Johannes, probably via Middle Low German.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Harṣ
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit हर्ष (harṣa).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Ṣ
- same syllable count
- similar length
Hermes
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἑρμῆς (Hermês), itself of unknown meaning and origin. From Ancient Greek Ἑρμῆς (Hermês).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Himeś
Borrowed from Sanskrit हिमेश (himeśa).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Ś
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Hans
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ida
Short form of obsolete names beginning with Germanic īd "work", used for both sexes in medieval England. It was revived in the 19th century, partly mistaken for a Greek name,…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Mia
A German, Dutch and North Germanic diminutive of Maria.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Hans
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Dirk
Borrowed from Dutch and North German Dirk.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends K
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Elmo
From an Italian contraction of Erasmo, cognate with Erasmus. Also a German short form of Elmar. * By folk etymology seen as a short form of Elmer. From German Elmo, vernacular…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection