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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hans

Hans

♂ Boy

Pronounced HANZ /hænz/Low

Meaning: God is gracious, God is goodLow

In 30 seconds: Hans is the German and Scandinavian short form of Johannes/John meaning God is gracious. Borne by great artists and the beloved fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen, it is one of the most important names in the German-Scandinavian tradition.
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Origin LowGerman, Hebrew, Scandinavian
MeaningGod is gracious, God is good
U.S. rank (2025)#1325 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births146 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1970
Total births (all-time)≈ 15,677

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197018802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hans is the German and Scandinavian short form of Johannes (John), from Hebrew Yochanan meaning God is gracious. It has been one of the most common names in German-speaking countries for centuries.

Hans has a clean one-syllable authority and is associated with German heritage, philosophical rigor, and Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales.

Did you know? Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) wrote The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Snow Queen — creating some of the world's most beloved fairy tales. His name Hans has been associated with magical storytelling ever since.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Hans

Variations

JohannesJohannJohn

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875)
    Danish author of fairy tales including The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and The Snow Queen

If you like Hans…

Jan— Dutch/Scandinavian form of same name
Lars— Scandinavian name of same tradition
Sven— Scandinavian masculine name
Erik— Scandinavian name of same heritage

Explore names like Hans

By themeclassicgermanone-syllablescandinaviangod-is-gracious
By meaningGod / DivineGrace

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Hans mean?

Hans means God is gracious as the German and Scandinavian short form of Johannes/John.

Is Hans a German name?

Yes, Hans is widely used in Germany, Scandinavia, and German-speaking Switzerland.

How do you pronounce Hans?

Hans is pronounced HANZ, a single syllable.

Who was Hans Christian Andersen?

Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author who wrote The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Snow Queen.

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